Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, IOM Head of Mission to Ghana
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Head of Mission to Ghana, Sylvia Lopez-Ekra has said that to address the negative impact of African migrants fleeing to Europe for greener pastures, there is the need for a sensitization advocacy to put an end to the menace.
Sylvia Lopez-Ekra believes that educating the community intensively on the dangers associated with such travels will curb the number of migrants making such treacherous journeys.
The IOM Rep was speaking at a stakeholder town hall meeting on Free Movement and Migration of ECOWAS member states.
A huge number of African migrants, especially the youth, have lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean in search of greener pastures in Europe.
Many of these migrants who set off on this journey are sold by their traffickers to kidnappers who try to get thousands of dollars from their families.
But Lopez-Ekra, in an interview with Ghanaweb averred that, “We cannot afford to have our youth risking their lives on the desert and Mediterranean Sea. We need them safe and we need them empowered so that they can contribute to the development of the country.”
According to her, IOM together with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2017 sensitized 24,000 Ghanaians in 49 communities especially in the Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra regions.
She added, “But last year we reached 85000 Ghanaian and now we are putting in place youth migration clubs in schools and other various facilities where young people are.”
Speaking further on the implementation progammes, she indicated that, “We are doing radio shows. We are preparing a big campaign. So it is really about making sure that the youth is equipped. That they understand the dangers. That they understand how to do it the proper way but also that parents, community leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders, government officials understand what is at stake.”
