The over one hundred Ghanaian migrants who were rescued from Libya have appealed to the government to assist them with viable jobs that can sustain them.
Over 160 of them detained in Libya were expected back home after government facilitated their release from the Libyan authorities.
Some of the returnees who spoke to journalists at the Kotoka International Airport where some 127 of them touched down Wednesday night, recounted some of their worst nightmares.
One of them said the trip was deadly as Libyan children even robbed immigrants at gunpoint and some of the travellers were killed on the desert.
For many of them, it was a story of a failed journey to Europe in which they could only count their losses.
Ansah, 28, was on his way to Italy through the Mediterranean Sea when he was arrested and subjected to months of torture.
“When they caught me on the sea, they took me to an uncompleted building where I stayed for six months. They only gave us one meal a day at 2:00 p.m., and the water they gave us was salty water,” he told the reporter.
The terribly disgruntled gentleman said there were17 of them in detention but seven people died.
Another victim said some of us were sold for $3000 or less where your owner would brutalise you and not pay you for the work you do for him/her.
Some were even shot in the leg.
In a move to help the returnees to settle and reintegrate into society, the Country Director of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said they will help them to reach their homes in a dignified manner.
Silvia Lopez said “we will do what we can to help them integrate into society.”
One of the returnees who said he used to make and sell tomato boxes patronised by tomato sellers who travel to Burkina Faso to buy the vegetables, said he will need some capital to set up on a large scale.
“The GH¢440 given to us is inadequate and these clothes I am wearing now, I am ashamed to take it home,” the returnee said.
Story: Franklin ASARE DONKOH
Writer’s email: franklin.asaredonkor@todaygh.com