Escape from Africa and the Mediterranian death Chamber

The earth has everything that every continent would need for the common good of the human family but the rejection of this reality has made life difficult for the human family in some areas.

The story of Africa has never been a palatable one since the inception of humanity. It first started with slavery, an inhuman and unforgettable act which later metamorphosed into colonization. And when we were given the chance to rule over ourselves, we were torn apart with wars, conflicts, genocides, coup d’état and terrorism. We had an enemy and when the enemy was sacked, we became our own enemies.

These and many other factors have made the African continent a cage floating on the surface of water. It has no direction and it is easily controlled by the waves of the sea.

A time has come that surviving a day in some parts of Africa is as difficult as digesting an ant. As a result of this, many Africans are making all efforts to escape to Europe where they can seek better life. And because they cannot afford the appropriate means of traveling to Europe, some have resorted to the Mediterranean Sea as their route to Europe.

The Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea have become a death trap and chamber to the souls of many African immigrants. Millions of lives are lost every day on the Mediterranean Sea.

Overall estimates are that over 22,000 African migrants died between 2000 and 2014 and 3,500 died in the early part of 2015 with 36,000 rescued. These are our own brothers and sisters daring the Sea in order to get out of the poverty, wars, hunger and lowly degrading life in Africa.

Most of these migrants are from Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, Egypt, Tunisia, Niger etc. And my little checks revealed that Ghanaians are inclusive of which majority are from Brekum, Wenchi, Techiman and Dormaa all in the Brong Ahafo Region.

I agree with Isaac Asimov when he said “There are no nations! There is only humanity. And if we don’t come to understand that right soon, there will be no nations because there will be no humanity.” The consequence to the loss of one African soul on the Mediterranean Sea cost us billions of hard currency but unfortunately we do not realize this.

Sometimes the lose of an African life comparatively becomes cheap. The reaction from the Americans whenever their citizen dies in a foreign land, is totally different from that of Africa. We seem not to value the lives of our citizens.

Despite all the death tolls recorded every day on the Mediterranean Sea, AU has not put in place any rescue team to salvage the drowned African migrants; they are left in the hands of the Europeans to rescue them.

Even at the point of death, African leaders punish them for trying to escape from the harsh conditions they have created.

African leaders have no sympathy and compassion for them. Press conferences are held every day by European leaders on how to curb the situation but African leaders are mute about it.

My fellow Africans! Our God is not dead! It’s time for the continent to lift up her head for her children to curtail this ugly-risky movement. Peace and security must be the desire of African leaders. Enough of the useless conflicts. Notwithstanding this, collective migration policies must be made to end these illegal movements.

Our economy must be beefed up to create jobs for the youth. African leaders must do everything possible to restore hope to the ordinary persons on this precious continent.

I enjoin the youth to stand up. Enough of the partisan politics and ethnic divisions. We are one people with a common destiny. The winds of change are blowing fiercely and I can see some African leaders interfering its course, but trust me, it will only delay the storm but will never stop it.

Let's stop the illegal escape and stay to make the changes we want to see in Africa. It is never too late and I have no doubt that the African continent will see a new light. God bless Africa.

“We are not children of a lesser god.”

By: Ntenhene Felix

(felixntenhene@gmail.com)

KNUST.