Man bound for Ghana stopped for security reasons Told to go home, but youth worker has no home now
Youth worker Benjamin Osei's misery deepened yesterday when he arrived early at Pearson airport ready to be deported — his thoughts already far away in Ghana — only to learn that Lufthansa airlines would not let him board the plane. It's not known when Osei will be deported, only that he will be sent to Ghana as soon as the Canadian Border Services Agency can make arrangements for a flight.
Why did Lufthansa refuse Osei, who worked for a coalition of churches in the one of the neediest parts of Toronto, organizing sports and homework clubs for children?
"Our corporate security department in Frankfurt decided not to take the passenger," said Jennifer Urbaniak, speaking for Deutsche Lufthansa AG, from Long Island, N.Y. "They can make the decision for any number of reasons, but always connected to the safety of the passengers."
She didn't provide any further explanation.
But Susan Finlay, who has known Osei since he preached in her church shortly after his arrival in Canada four years ago, had something to say about it. "Benjamin, of all things, is the most gentle person in the world."
Despite the news from Lufthansa, Osei presented himself to Immigration Canada in the basement of Terminal One, as his removal order instructed. There, a Canadian Border Services Agency Employee behind a glass window told him to go home and wait to be contacted.
Astounded by the turn of events, Osei murmured: "I've given up my apartment. I'm ready to go. I don't have a phone. I don't have a home address."
Aside from that brief exchange, there was no other contact or explanation from anyone from Immigration Canada or the border services agency.
His application to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds was denied. He was told his evidence before a refugee tribunal was not credible. Osei survived the civil war in Sierra Leone, where his first wife and two children were killed, and where he said he was tortured and imprisoned.
For the time being he'll stay with one of the church leaders who had been helping him. He said he felt homeless.
"It's dragged on for 4 1/2 years. I want a solution to be found — am I going or staying? I'm still in limbo," Osei said.
"We need you at Jane and Finch," cried out Antoinette Weekes, mother of five, when she heard the news.
Earlier she'd described the way Osei motivated as well as calmed children, including one of her sons, in their neighbourhood. "If he saw him downstairs, idling, he'd say, `Go pick up your book.' I see people come here (to Canada) and don't do crap. They rob, and this man comes to help people. I thought they needed skilled people. My God, that man is skilled."
Ministers from several congregations who employed Osei under a Youth Unlimited program — workers raise money from donations for their salary and youth programs — were at the airport ready to announce they were setting up a Ben Fund. Money raised will cover the expenses of returning Osei, with his second wife and two children, to Canada, and support the programs Osei started.
They are confident Osei will soon be able to return to Canada.
The border services agency could not comment on Osei's case other than to say deportation would proceed.
"It is our intention to remove Benjamin Osei," said spokesperson Tsering Nanglu. "We will make other arrangements as soon as we can."
