Fisherman arrested for selling children

Cape Coast, Jan. 12, GNA - The Cape Coast Police have arrested a 28-year-old fisherman, Kojo Slipi for allegedly selling a 15 year-old boy for four million cedis. Slipi was said to have offered to assist the buyers to send the boy to the Ghana-Cote D'Ivoire border but he was arrested at Elmina.

Mr. Bartholomew Kwaku Agbenyega, Regional Crime Officer told newsmen in Cape Coast on Wednesday that police had information that someone was offering two boys and a girl at Elmina for sale to be sent to Cote D'Ivoire. Policemen were then detailed to Elmina to trace and arrest the person.

At Elmina the policemen met Kojo Slipi who is from Winneba but resides in Elmina with a 17-year-old boy. The Crime Officer said the boy on seeing the police, who posed as prospective buyers, took to his heels but Slipi told them not to worry and that he was going to bring them a girl around 6 pm on that same day.

Mr. Agbenyega said on January 8, the police had another information that Slipi had got another boy for sale. He then offered the boy for sale at five million cedis. The buyers agreed to pay but deferred payment until Tuesday January 11, since they were not having money on them.

On the appointed day, Slipi brought a 15-year-old boy and the buyers bargained with him and he reduced the amount to four million cedis, which they paid. According to the Crime Officer, Slipi then offered to accompany the buyers to the Ghana-Cote D'Ivoire border and in the process other policemen who had laid ambush arrested Slipi.

The Crime Officer advised fishermen and fishmongers to monitor the movements of their children to stop them from falling into such traps. He called on the public to give the police information on such criminal acts. The boy said he was deceived by Slipi that he was sending him to Cote d'Ivoire to get him a job in a fishing vessel operated by Slipi's elder brother.

According to him when he wanted to inform his elders about the trip, Slipi told him not to do so because he had already done that on his behalf. Slipi blamed his action on the devil. GNA