Ghanaian domestic worker dies in Lebanon through “Modern Slavery”

“I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted” is attributed to Frederick Douglass. Yes, modern slavery is real, however, many Africans seeking greener pastures and daring the consequences can agree with me that “It is better to eat pepper and be happy than to eat honey and be sad” Wisdom Eli Kojo Hammond.

Africans are vulnerable as they leave their lives in pursuit of opportunities elsewhere. The story of the Ghanaian domestic worker, Faustina Tay who died in Lebanon through “Modern Slavery” is just one of the countless bad publicity for Africa and its leaders.

The death of Faustina Tay, a under the Kafala system in Lebanon is just a minute piece that Africans in such places go through in the name of greener opportunities out there.

• The Year of Return: Its importance to Ghana and the Returnees
• Video: Ghanaian invents the best COVID-19 Hand Washing System
• Testing COVID-19 vaccines, Africa isn’t a testing lab – Didier Drogba

Like the proverbial prodigal son of the Bible, many Africans have had to run away from a prodigal continent to liberate themselves from economic hardship imposed on us all by political heads and governments.

The Kafala system which is a domestic workers’ system is used to exploit migrant labourers, working primarily in the construction and domestic sectors. Although it has enough evil attributed to it, some of our African brothers and sisters prefer to enjoy the bittersweet fruits of this” rewarding slavery” in a foreign land to the self-imposed killing systems and poverty of governments in their countries.

This practice which is common in Gulf cooperation council member states and places like Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates lingers on in profit for those that eat its juicy fruits from the top of the pyramid. Unfortunately, such human rights violations go unpunished.

While many in Europe travel for vacation and business purposes, most Africans flee in search of jobs, sometimes at the peril of their lives either through the Sahara Desert or any other illegal and legal means possible.

Sadly, Africans are engaged in preparing traveling documents for their fellow Africans to go and suffer. Faustina was the source of joy for even the abusive children of her employer. Can you imagine, even her phone was seized, and people in her condition were not paid sometimes. At best, your earnings are used to pay for the visa and plane ticket that landed you in modern slavery.

While many are calling for the Kafala system to be abolished, I call for Africa countries and their political heads to be leaders without ceasing. Change the Africa story, provide jobs, relevant training and skills. Turn every street corner of Africa into a better place.

Let Africa look within and change her story. Africa is not poor, Africa is not handicapped, Africa is not sick, Africa is home. The only challenges we have are our leaders, our mindset and the inferiority complex, corruption, the lack of strategic thinking, the lack of a united front to heal the artificial boundaries created and redirect our focus.

Just as the “Returnees of the dead forest“, let  Africa die to the wrong choices and decisions. Let us rise from the ashes of COVID-19 and fix Africa for good. This is the time for Africa to look within for her greatness.

Source: NewsGhana24.com | Wisdom Hammond