Written By Solomon Solari Sarpong - On Tuesday 28th November 2017, I had the opportunity of watching a report on CNN of how young African migrants hoping to escape the harsh conditions at home to the ‘greener pastures’ of Europe and beyond are being mistreated.
I couldn't believe what I saw, as I initially doubted how a fellow Black man could treat his neighbor so inhumanely. But, it soon became evident to me that the slave days of yesteryears had resurfaced in our contemporary world after the heart wrenching news was carried by almost all the other national and international electronic and print media.
African migrants being offered for sale in Libya.
It is unbelievable that in the 21st Century, Africans (Libyans) do not have sympathy for their fellow Africans. Black lives are being degraded and sold for as little as £40. This is a shame on all Africans as it portrays us in a negative way.
Maltreating, dehumanizing fellow human beings, and selling them cheaply to be used as hard laborers has been the order of the day in war torn Libya. May God have mercy on us! It is not surprising that the true definition of an African, has totally changed as we always expect to be enslaved and ruled by the whites.
Welcome to Africa, where citizens feel reluctant to think independently.
Welcome to the modern day Africa, where the happenings in our backyard is being relayed to us by foreign news channels, while our own media look on with disdain.
Welcome to Africa, where citizens have more passion for foreign goods than the consumption of locally manufactured goods.
Welcome to Africa, where citizens would prefer running to Europe, Asia, and America to seek greener pastures. It is very sorrowful to see these things happening to us. It is about time Africans rise up to take their rightful place in the world.
Africa needs new education to redeem her lost dignity. An education that will allow us to think independently, and afford us the opportunity to contribute positively towards the development of the African continent as a whole.
Africa needs a new kind of education to enable us recast the image of Africa as a success story.
For us to realize this great call for continental development, we need to overhaul our hearts and minds.
Every country has an opportunity to be great, but it all depends on the mindset of its citizens. If we make up our minds that we are too good to be fooled by the whites, and learn to appreciate what we have and grow it to feed ourselves, our story wouldn’t be told by a different continent to us.
For how long must feverish birds be silent before their maker? Let’s come together as one people and build an Africa that will be an envy to some other continents. The younger generation is looking up to us to set the pace.
Our youth are dying because our systems and policies are not friendly to them.
Unemployment continues to rise annually without any chance of stopping it in sight. As a result of this, our youth are engaging in activities that do not and should not represent a true African.
Lately, Africa is dying because of corruption. Funds which could have been channeled into developmental projects to create employment opportunities for our jobless youth, end up in the pockets of some corrupt officials.
Why won’t our youth abandon their country to seek greener pastures elsewhere?
We all have a role to play to redeem our lost image. Therefore, let’s position our mindsets in a more positive way and contribute to the development of Ghana in particular and Africa as a whole.
May the Good Lord help us all!
Writer: Solomon Solari Sarpong
A concerned citizen of Ghana
Email :
0248982495.
