CAUTION: A Picture accompanying story may be sensitive. Use your discretion.
*18year old Latifa was promised of a descent employment in an undisclosed foreign country.
Upon arrival in the destination country(which turnedout to be Kuwait), her passport and mobile phone were seized by her Kuwaiti sponsor. Nothing like a white or 'fine' blue-collar job as promised; nothing like a flexible work schedule, health insurance and sufficient salary.
Soon, the princess of Alhaji Latif's family became a slave for a Kuwaiti household. From 6am(GMT) to 1 or 2am(GMT), she performed any menial house chore you can think of: cleaning, washing, scrubbing, baby-sitting among others. She was coerced to perform these task amidst frequent beatings, insults, sexual abuse, and non-payment of salary.This situation continued for 6 months.
Early this year, deep in the belly of the night, Latifa was asked to prepare a meal. In the process, the gas cylinder she was using exploded, severely burning her. She was later 'dumped' in a hospital till through a good Samaritan, a Ghanaian Ambassador heard of her situation and stepped in to assist her.
Recently, Citi FM held a discussion on how house helps are treated coldly in the Gulf countries but that unfortunately fell on deaf ears, I believe. To add insult to injury, there are mainstream local radio stations airing adverts which seek to lure youngsters into the situation Latifa found herself.
More on her plight will soon be featured on Metro TV news; and It's my hope others who wish trek the same risky path as Latifa did would take a cue from it. Even if only a soul is saved through my feature on Latifa, I'd be thankful.
***The victim, Latifa, returned to Ghana on Friday, 17th April with severe burns. Thanks to God, she didn't die as some of her colleagues did.
©Metro TV/Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong
*18year old Latifa was promised of a descent employment in an undisclosed foreign country.
Upon arrival in the destination country(which turnedout to be Kuwait), her passport and mobile phone were seized by her Kuwaiti sponsor. Nothing like a white or 'fine' blue-collar job as promised; nothing like a flexible work schedule, health insurance and sufficient salary.
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| A picture showing the burned body of Latifa |
Soon, the princess of Alhaji Latif's family became a slave for a Kuwaiti household. From 6am(GMT) to 1 or 2am(GMT), she performed any menial house chore you can think of: cleaning, washing, scrubbing, baby-sitting among others. She was coerced to perform these task amidst frequent beatings, insults, sexual abuse, and non-payment of salary.This situation continued for 6 months.
Early this year, deep in the belly of the night, Latifa was asked to prepare a meal. In the process, the gas cylinder she was using exploded, severely burning her. She was later 'dumped' in a hospital till through a good Samaritan, a Ghanaian Ambassador heard of her situation and stepped in to assist her.
Recently, Citi FM held a discussion on how house helps are treated coldly in the Gulf countries but that unfortunately fell on deaf ears, I believe. To add insult to injury, there are mainstream local radio stations airing adverts which seek to lure youngsters into the situation Latifa found herself.
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| Gabriel in an interaction with Latifa |
***The victim, Latifa, returned to Ghana on Friday, 17th April with severe burns. Thanks to God, she didn't die as some of her colleagues did.
©Metro TV/Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong
