President Akufo-Addo has expressed his dissatisfaction with the spate at which Africans, particularly the youth are illegally travelling out of the continent to Europe.
In his speech, the president said, “Africans taking distressing risks across the Sahara and around the Mediterranean trying to reach a better life in Europe, whilst we strive to provide the youth with the right environment in Africa, which will enable them enhance their skills, receive appropriate training and have access to digital technology and enhance economic opportunities.”
He said this during the visit of the Austrian Chancellor to Ghana, Karl Nehammer which is also the first visit of the Austrian Chancellor since bilateral ties began between the two countries at the Jubilee House in Accra.
He also revealed the Austrian Chancellor and his delegation’s determination to champion the need for humane treatment of illegal migrants as well as the protection of their human rights in accordance with international law both in Austria and in the European space.
According to a report by the International Organization for Migration, more than 29,000 migrants have died trying to reach Europe since 2014.
The report notes that the deadliest migration route continues to be the Central Mediterranean, where 2,836 people have died since January 2021 attempting to reach Italy or Malta, mainly from Libya and Tunisia.