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Bizarre: 300 Ghanaians to
die in Libya for loitering?
By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor
Monday, December 21, 2015
Folks, I have been bothered by news reports concerning the
plight of Ghanaians leaving Ghana for so-called "greener
pastures" only to end up in worse circumstances than what
they might be fleeing from.
Having already been exposed to the fate of migrants reaching
Europe or perishing in the attempt to leave their countries,
I am tempted to wonder why at all people should put their
lives at risk this way. And I am particularly alarmed when
it is about Ghanaians. If for nothing at all, the Ghanaian
condition is far better than exists elsewhere, regardless of
what the government is able to provide or not. It all has to
do with one's ability to do what one can where one is with
what one has. Yet, Ghanaians (the youth, particularly)
choose to move out to seek fortunes; and they run into
serious problems.
Interestingly, while they are deserting the country, foreign
nationals (Nigerians, Chinese, etc.) are gravitating toward
Ghana to exploit the situation and make it big time in life.
Paradoxical. The foreigners see what the Ghanaians cannot
see about the abundance of opportunities in the country. And
they go for it to the chagrin of the unseeing Ghanaians
themselves. At least, that's what some of my Nigerian
friends have told me. The journey out of Ghana is always
rough.
Whether it is about crossing the vast and inhospitable
Sahara Desert to reach Libya or Egypt; whether it has to do
with stowing away on ships or aircraft to reach Europe,
Asia, the United States, or South America, the danger is
always high and unavoidable. Even if it has to do with
African countries, there is always a high risk factor,
especially for those embarking on such ventures without any
proper documentation or assurance of security and safety on
the journey or at the end of it.
Over the years, Ghanaians have been lured by fanciful
stories of a "Happy Ending" elsewhere to leave the country
only to end up in worse circumstances. The going is not easy
anywhere in this world. The situation becomes really
alarming if they get caught up in circumstances unknown to
them before they left Ghana; for instance, the case of those
trafficking drugs to places like Indonesia, Singapore, etc.,
or others where practices don't allow immorality.
Eventually, they come face-to-face with the grim reality.
Some have been executed for flouting the strict laws on drug
trafficking while others have been given long jail terms for
violating the norms. Yet, many more are willing to leave the
country.
News reports have it that "Over 300 Ghanaians will be
sentenced to death in Libya on Monday, December 21, 2015, if
the Ghana Embassy does not intervene. The detainees,
according to reports, have been in prison in Libyan town
called Pejora for the past three months awaiting the
intervention of officials from the Ghana Embassy.
A Ghanaian domiciled in Libya, Yaw Tekyi in an interview
with Adom News said the only chance of survival for the
detainees is for officials of the Ghana Embassy in Libya to
show up in court. He said their crime was loitering around
in town because they had nowhere to go when they reached
Libya to seek greener pastures." (See
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Over-300-Ghanaians-to-be-sentenced-in-Libya-today-402261).
Folks, this issue is disheartening for all that it entails.
Ghanaians are known to have suffered adversities in Libya
(even in the era of the "friendly" Muammar Ghadaffi when
Ghana had good relations with Libya). The current situation
in Libya is worse and should have forewarned Ghanaians not
to attempt being in that country. But they have resisted the
odds to be there. Who will want to be in Libya in this
turbulent time but Ghanaians daring the devil?
I am disturbed that they are being rounded up for no serious
crime but "loitering around" (because they have nowhere to
reside). Oh, Ghanaman!! Why leave your own country (the land
of freedom, where no one cares where one finds oneself
anywhere at any time of the day) only to be so degraded in
Libya?
I am more worried that the Ghanaian authorities will now
have to step in to avert a worse disaster. I know how lazy
the Ghanaian Missions abroad are, and wish that someone will
step in to help these poor compatriots. But it shouldn't
become the norm for all manner of people to leave the
country at their own volition only to end up in such
deplorable circumstances and shift the responsibility to the
Missions.
Tell these people not to run out of the country without
adequate support or assurance of being accepted wherever
they want to go and they will insult you. They will always
justify their decision to emigrate with the claim that the
Mahama-led administration isn't solving problems and that
they can fare better in other systems. Unfortunately, these
are mostly unskilled labourers not welcome wherever they go,
apparently because there are equally unskilled labourers in
the target countries who cannot make ends meet. So, the
influx of such Ghanaians threatens the system all the more.
The solution? Round them up and give them what punishment
will deter others from following suit. This particular
problem is disturbing. I wish that the Ghanaian Embassy in
Libya will step in to save the situation. Meantime,
Ghanaians need to know that "nowhere cool". But will they,
especially when everyone’s mind seems to be beclouded by the
dirty rhetoric from the anti-Mahama politicians blaming
every mishap in Ghana on the NDC administration? Tweeeeeaa!!
Even in the almighty United States, there is a high level of
homelessness and desperation. In New York, for instance, the
vagrants (legitimate citizens of the country defeated by the
Fates) are now occupying the international La Guardia
Airport because they have nowhere to live. Nowhere cool, my
folks!!
I shall return…
• E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com
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to continue the conversation
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