July 13, 2021
By: Morlai Gbla (Kambia)
Child trafficking is still a major challenge between Sierra Leone and Guinea, although both governments have been working strongly to impede the illegally trafficking of children between the two countries, their efforts has proof fruitless.
Over the week, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea, His Excellency Ambassador Alimamy Hassan Bangura, accompanied by two officials from the Sierra Leone Embassy in Guinea officially handed over two kids namely Amadu Barrie aged 13 from Falaba district and Kadiatu Kamara aged 10 from the Eastern region Kenema District to the appropriate authorities in Sierra Leone.
According to Amadu Barrie, he was encouraged to travel from Falaba district to Conakry Guinea with a friend of his without the knowledge of his parents who are presently residing in Falaba district. Information reaching says that the children got missing while in Conakry Guinea.
One of the traffic kids, Kadiatu Kamara briefly explained to social workers and media practitioners in Kambia district that her mother gave her to a business man named Mohammed residing in Guinea, and who is not a member of their family , rather a mere friend to her mother.
Kadiatu Kamara further explained that she absconded from home in Guinea on the 1st July this year because of persistent beatings and inhuman treatment by the said business man.
The two kids where handed to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Guinea by a social worker of the United Nations International Children`s Educational Fund (UNICEF) named Madam kadiatou Camara who have being monitoring the activities of the minors in Guinea.
Confirming the information, Paso Conteh from the Ministry of social welfare gender and children affairs said the kids will be returned to their respective parents after taking all necessary information from the Minors.
He ended up by thanking His Excellency Ambassador Alimamy Hassan Bangura and team for their tireless efforts in making sure they represent the country effectively in Guinea.