The decision has been made and all preparations lead to Libya. Bringing together resources now become an urgent need as time keeps closing down on these highly spirited Ghanaian youth. At this point, they go all lengths to get resources in funding their travel and making sure all necessary provisions are made as they have the end in sight. Selling their highly cherished assets, borrowing from friends and cashing out their lifetime savings are normal happenings as far as funding the travel is concerned. Is it not glaringly evident that this happening is dragging the youth in a probable loss of not just their hard-earned lifetime resources but also the fortunes of these generous lenders? Inspired by the popular saying,
“Nothing ventured nothing gained”,
the probable Ghanaian migrant has high hopes of reaping all benefits. Once all is set, the voyage guaranteed not a return commences.
Neighbours and families one day wake up hearing that their loved ones have left on this precarious journey. The agitations of many sympathizers remain that this is a risky venture to be embarked on. Carrying heavy backpacks containing all their necessary needs, the journey from Ghana to Togo becomes a migrant’s first real test. With the help of agents, migrants successfully although illegally by-pass the boarders and various check-points into Togo as they have no proper documents to clear them of clean passage. When reaching ones destination in Togo, another ordeal has to do with a place for shelter and security. Staying in Togo for few days becomes mandatory as proper arrangements are to be made by agents so that the journey can smoothly continue. For most illegal migrants from Ghana, it becomes difficult coping in Togo because the language disparity become a barrier for smooth communication. Moving from Togo to Benin takes few days and similar ordeals are confronted with. From Benin, the climax of this journey is the travel through the popular Nigerien city of Agadez.
Agadez, a city in central Niger is the famous gateway through the desert to Libya. It has over decades become a transit city for many migrants who plan crossing the harsh saharan desert. Migrants live in small overcrowded houses of which they pay huge sums for shelter. Famously known as “road of fire”, the desert from Agadez to Libya is characterized by unfriendly temperatures and exposure to risks of facing hijackers. Waiting for the truck that arrives only on monday evenings, migrants would have to survive with the little food and water available. After these trucks take off at full non-stop speeds, often without the lights on, one dare not sleep for he or she might fall off the vehicle and left behind to perish. The turbulent conditions on the desert persist throughout the three-day journey. The mental torture, extreme discomfort in an overcrowded vehicle and the presence of little or no food makes the desired Tripoli trip a hard one to cope with. Can you imagine the negative effects of these mentioned dire situations encountered by these travellers?
After successfully going through the dangerous Saharan desert, smugglers in Libya capture these migrants and keep them hostage. They demand huge amounts from migrants which in most cases the aid of Ghanaian agents before being freed. If payments are not made on time, these migrants are tortured by the instructions of the “Ghetto Leader” at the boarder camp. The abusive and torturous videos are then sent to the families of these captured migrants to facilitate quick settlement of monies before being released. Those who still are not able to make payments are transferred to “Ben Wahlid”, a city in southern Libya to be sold for labor. In both cases, one successfully gets an opportunity to serve a “Master”.
Many migrants work tirelessly yet their remuneration are far lesser than they actually deserve. Others also end up being severely abused by their masters either physically or psychologically. Are these not further ordeals migrants face even after reaching their destination? Is it not obvious that the problems keep mounting and seem unending? The journey so far has been a precarious one characterized by ordeals and agony.