In late 2017, it was in the news that there was an ongoing ‘slave trade’ in Libya and as usual, I expressed my views on it via a Human Rights Blog I used to write for. I decided to throw it back and feature it on here too. These are issues we should not just talk about when they arise, it should be something that should be in our conversations every now and then with the aim of abolishing it.
Slavery is in the strictest sense of the term, any system in which principles of property law are applied to people, allowing individuals to own, buy and sell other individuals, as a de jure form of property. According to history, slave trade in Africa existed for about 200 years in Africa and in Ghana it began in 1533 when the British arrived on the shores of the then (Gold Coast) which led other colonies such as Portuguese, Swedish, Danes and other nationals to also involve in the then booming trade. This act had devastating effects such as displacing people and separating people from their families and countries forever.
At least this was decades ago and at this time we are convinced that such things are a thing of the past though some people I have had conversations in the past assume that there is a modern-day form of slavery in terms of mental slavery whereby people of colour still prefer products produced abroad to those produced in their country and prefer to school outside their countries other than in their own country. This is a very interesting angle which will be tackled in another post, but I would comment briefly that this would not be up for discussion if what they had made them better off.
Well, in this scenario, human beings, better still Africans are being sold for an average of $400 by Africans who end up going through treacherous routes to European countries for a better standard of living. These slaves are from African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana who have left their countries because they are not enjoying the necessities of life which include access to good shelter, food or accommodation because of the inability to secure jobs. The conversation now becomes what got us here in the first place? Why will people leave their countries for an unknown destination where they have no idea what is waiting for them if they were comfortable in their countries?
As an African, I can say that our leaders have not helped and are mostly responsible for situations like this. Whenever I hear foreign media depict Africa as a poor continent, I find it amusing because they only report what they want to. If the resources Ghana alone was utilised very well and every single citizen enjoyed the proceeds from the abundant gold, cocoa, diamond and oil nobody would even think of leaving for another country unless of course it is for vacation purposes. What is happening in Libya depicts the selfishness and greed on the part of our leaders which has forced citizens of one country to be slaves in another for the sake of greener pastures.
Many of these slaves do not get to their destinations. Those who do are subjected to harsh conditions of living which contradicts the purpose for which they left their countries in the first place. Libya is being used to tell us all that indeed there is more work to be done. African leaders international organisations, human rights activists, you and me. If it means posting on your social media handle, do it. If it means signing a petition, do it. Even if it is something little, do it. Because it will go a long way.
However, for this canker to be eroded from the surface of the earth, it should not be all about talking. It is time for the welfare of citizens to be the topmost priority for African leaders especially and corrupt activities should be done away with so that these will be a thing of the past.
This was rather brief…but I hope the message has been delivered duly. Slavery in this day and age should NOT be encouraged. We need to do better for our current society and future generations. Stay tuned for another blog post real soon! Have an amazing week ahead!
Gertrude says...... 