Rev. Canon Dr. Bansah urges Akufo-Addo to oppose UK-Rwanda migrant plan

Founder of Center for Religion and Public Life (CRPL-Ghana), Rev. Canon Dr. Confidence Bansah, has made a fervent plea to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to use his influence to oppose the United Kingdom's plan to relocate illegal migrants to Rwanda.

Drawing historical parallels to the transatlantic slave trade, Dr. Bansah expressed grave concerns about the implications of this scheme for Africa.

"UK’s plan of dumping illegal migrants in Rwanda brings back the nostalgia of the slavery predicaments of the continent," Dr. Bansah stated in press statement

He highlighted the UK's historical role in the transatlantic slave trade, where Africans were forcibly transported to various parts of the world, including the Caribbean, Liberia, and the United States, often with dire consequences.

Dr. Bansah fears that the UK’s current plan could signal a new wave of exploitation and destabilization for Africa.

"With this UK/Rwanda scheme, it is indisputable that the UK is beginning to orchestrate another full-scale dislodgement of Africans and the destabilization of the continent. And like transatlantic slavery, only God knows how this is going to end."

He criticized the West for historically blaming Africans for their own enslavement and questioned whether the African Union (AU) would stand by as history potentially repeats itself. "Must Rwanda not learn from Botswana, which rejected the UK’s proposal? Africa is still struggling with security, crime, border control, and the influx of terrorist groups. Not forgetting those deportees coming from countries linked to global terrorism like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, whose backgrounds we don’t know."

He questioned the mechanisms the AU has in place to monitor and control the movement of potentially dangerous individuals.

"What mechanisms does the AU have in place to monitor and control the movement of these people, some of whom might be members of militant groups or are terrorists themselves?"

Dr. Bansah emphasized that the implications of this plan extend beyond the continent, posing risks to individual nations like Ghana. "Despite the continental impact, Ghana is equally not safe with the implementation of this plan, as it has implications for the peace and security of the nation."

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Multi-Stakeholder Working Group, Dr. Bansah called on President Akufo-Addo to take action.

"I am humbly and respectfully calling on the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to use his influence to intervene in this barbaric act by the UK government and champion the cause among his AU peers to discourage Rwanda from progressing with the scheme."

Below is the full statement

UK brings back the era of slavery while African Union sits aloof

UK’s plan of dumping illegal migrants in Rwanda brings back the nostalgia of the slavery predicaments of the continent.

In the era of slavery, Britain gained notoriety and the reputation for collecting and dumping Africans anyhow, anywhere, and everywhere with impunity. Talk about the Caribbean, Liberia, and the United States.

And with this UK/Rwanda scheme, it is undisputable that UK is beginning to orchestrate another full-scale dislodgement of Africans and the destabilization of the continent.

And like transatlantic slavery, only God knows how this is going to end. As we already know, the West continues to blame us for our own enslavement, and I wonder if AU will sit aloof for Rwanda to allow history to repeat itself.

Must Rwanda not learn from Botswana, which rejected UK’s proposal? Africa is still struggling with security, crime, border control, and the influx of terrorist groups. Not forgetting those deportees coming from countries linked to global terrorism like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, whose backgrounds we don’t know.

This inhumane act by the UK and Rwanda could fuel insecurity in Africa, a continent that is desperately helpless and handicapped in the face of threats of violent extremism, terrorism, armed conflicts, and military coup d'état.

The question is, what mechanisms does the AU have in place to monitor and control the movement of these people, some of whom might be members of militant groups or are terrorists themselves? The fact is, despite the continental impact, Ghana is equally not safe with the implementation of this plan, as it has implications for the peace and security of the nation.

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Multi-Stakeholder Working Group, I am humbly and respectfully calling on the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to use his influence to intervene in this barbaric act by the UK government and champion the cause among his AU peers to discourage Rwanda from progressing with the scheme.

Rev. Canon Dr. Confidence Bansah

Founder of Center for Religion and Public Life (CRPL-Ghana)

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