DESPITE the life-threatening risks, many young Africans, including Ghanaians, continue to embark on perilous journeys across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of better opportunities in Europe. However, as RFI reports, deported migrants are now speaking out about the dangers of irregular migration, hoping to deter others from making the same mistakes.
A journey marked by hardship and loss
The Ghana Immigration Service estimates that since 2017, over 5,142 Ghanaian migrants have been deported from Libya after attempting to reach Europe without proper documentation. Many of these individuals, mostly unemployed or in low-paying jobs, are influenced by peers and smugglers who promise them a better future abroad.
One such returnee is Richard Armah, a 30-year-old from Nsoatre in the Bono Region. Armah endured the brutal conditions of the Sahara Desert but never reached Europe. Instead, he returned to Ghana with physical scars that now prevent him from doing manual labour.
‘Irregular migration is destroying the youth,’ he told RFI. ‘In 2017, while working at the Fiapre Tollbooth, I had a steady income but still chose to travel to Europe through the desert. Nearing Libya, we were kidnapped and brutally mistreated. The ordeal left me with scars all over my body as a reminder of the suffering we endured.’
His experience is far from unique. He recalled seeing ‘lifeless bodies scattered across the desert,’ yet turning back was not an option. Now, he warns others: ‘Migration is good, but we must use the right means to travel so that you do not suffer the way I suffered.’
Libya: a false hope for migrants
Like Armah, Lord Yeboah, a mason from Dormaa Ahenkro, was lured into making the journey by a friend who promised better job opportunities in Libya.
‘I was working as a mason when a friend persuaded me to go to Libya, believing I could earn more money there. I travelled from Accra to Agadez, but three days after arriving, we were abandoned in the desert,’ Yeboah shared.
After nine days of trekking, he reached Libya, only to be met with imprisonment and abuse.
‘As soon as we arrived, authorities seized our passports and threw us into prison. We were locked up with other African migrants, and we were barely fed,’ he recounted. It was only through the intervention of Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) that he was eventually deported.
Now, Yeboah warns others against falling for the same false promises. ‘If you have money, invest it in agriculture instead. The conditions in Libya are far worse than in Ghana,’ he advised.
Efforts to curb irregular migration
Given the high rates of illegal migration in Ghana’s Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions, authorities have ramped up awareness efforts. With European Union funding, Ghana has established its first Migration Information Centre in Sunyani as part of the Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA) project.
Superintendent Francis Kofi Apau, who heads the centre, says the initiative is making a difference.
‘Our region has a high rate of irregular migration, so we have intensified our educational campaigns on the importance of legal migration. More people are now using our services,’ he explained.
Authorities are also targeting high school students, warning them of the dangers of illegal migration.
‘Young people are particularly vulnerable, as some consider embarking on this dangerous journey after finishing school,’ Apau added.
Deported migrants find hope in agriculture
Recognising the need for sustainable job opportunities, some deported migrants have turned to agriculture. One such group, the Dormaa East Migrant Association, is now engaged in dry-season vegetable farming.
Samuel Donkor, the group’s leader, told RFI that they chose farming because demand for fresh produce is high.
‘We grow green peppers and tomatoes. With plenty of free arable land here, we needed to find a way to sustain ourselves after being deported from Libya,’ Donkor explained.
Encouraging other young people to follow their lead, he added: ‘Don’t waste your time and energy on a dangerous journey to Europe. The little money you have can be invested in agriculture to build a better future.’
A call for safer migration practices
The testimonies of Armah, Yeboah, and Donkor highlight the urgent need for informed migration choices. As Ghana ramps up efforts to curb illegal migration and promote safer alternatives, returnees are leading the charge in warning others about the realities of their experiences.
With thousands of Ghanaians still risking their lives in search of opportunities abroad, awareness, economic investment, and policy interventions remain key in addressing the root causes of irregular migration.
