UN must conduct conclusive investigations into auctioning of migrants in Libya - Annor Dompreh

Chairman, Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Frank Annor Dompreh, has narrated how African migrants are sold between $200-$500 as slaves by Libyan human traffickers.

The MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri told the House that the refuges, mostly from Nigeria, Senegal Ghana and The Gambia, are held on average from two to three months and used for construction and agricultural works with or without pay.

He said the migrants, who are usually captured along Libyan’s Mediterranean post, as they try to catch boats to Europe, are told that they are ‘’pre to an array of armed troops, and people smuggling network that have often tried to extort extra money in exchange for allowing them to continue their journey.

‘’Lots of the migrants, who are unable to pay their captors, are reportedly killed or left to starve to death. When migrants die, others are captured to replace them… We even gathered from the agencies reports also that some of migrants, are even buried without being identified with families back home and certain of their faith,’’ he added.

‘’ Mr. Speaker, evidence abound, the situation is dire. So far this year, statistics indicate that an estimated 26,886 migrants, have crossed to Italy from different countries which is over 7,000 more than the same period in 2016…More than 600 are also known to have died at sea, while an unknown number perish during their journey through the desert. The situation is indeed alarming and I use this opportunity to call on the players that, this matter is a matter of urgency. I call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the United Nations (UN), the Libyan government to conduct a conclusive investigation into the matter because the alleged state action has really sparked an outrage,’’ he said.

Although it is not a new problem, the issue of migration has increased sharply in the past fear years and migration from mainly sub-Saharan African countries to Europe across Libya can be traced back to the year 2000.

A former Nigerian government minister has claimed that migrants from his country are having their organs harvested after being sold into slavery in Libya.

The former aviation minister in Nigeria, claimed that 75 per cent of slaves who have their organs harvested in North Africa are from his country.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also condemned the auctioning and described it as scandalous. Former President Rawlings has also condemned it stating that, the late Gaddafi treated migrants just like he treated Libyans.