Update on Felicia Case
On the 1st of March the Coree World Aid Foundation filed a complaint to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The complaint was that they had discovered an 11 year old girl named “Felicia Abena” in the village Aprakukrom near Abronye in the Brong -Ahafo Region. It was discovered that the girl was serving her so-called uncles Kwalu Gatah and Solaire Suabyday both at home and on the farm. She has also been walking long distances to fetch water for the farm. In addition she had to cook for the two men when coming back home.
When the CWAF coordinators offered to help Felicia continue her education by paying her fees, the uncles refused. They were not prepared to send her to school because she has been helping them both at home and at the farm.
On the 12th of March 2013, the commission went to Aprakukrom to investigate this matter. Since the uncles were not home during the time of the visit, Felicia took the team to the farm about 4 kilometers from the village where her uncles were at that moment. After explaining the importance of education to them, the team invited them however the uncles said that they cannot honor the commission’s invitation. The commission realized that they were not interested in the welfare of the child. Further investigation revealed that the mother of Felicia resides in Babile-Lawra District in the Upper West Region. However the commission was unable to contact the mother.
On the 19th of April 2013, the investigation team from the commission in collaboration with the Domestic Violence And Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Social welfare went to Aprakukrom to arrest the uncles of Felicia. The uncles together with Felicia were brought to the office of DOVVSU. After taking statements from the uncles, they were granted bail by the police so that further investigation could be conducted. The social welfare advised that Felicia should be send to an orphanage until her case will be closed. A coordinator from Coree World Aid visited Felicia to see how she is. Felicia is currently doing great and the Coree World Aid agreed to sponsor her education.