An anti-illegal migration Non Governmental Organization, SEWA Foundation has called for the arrest of the Communications Director of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Solomon Nkansah for publicly encouraging stowaway.
According to the NGO, the NDC official appears to know much about the facilitation of the illegal practice and it’s important that the he’s invited by the security agencies for questioning.
Solomon Nkansah, who was addressing hundreds of NDC supporters during the campaign launch of the deputy Western Regional Minister and NDC parliamentary candidate for New Takoradi, Alfred Ekow Gyan said during the NPP’s era a huge wall was constructed around the harbour, making it difficult for the youth to stowaway.
He further stated that the NDC has broken the said wall and has expanded the port which will see more ships coming into the harbour, making it easy for the youth to embark on their stowaway.
“What happened was that when a certain party came to power, they built a 13 feet wall making it impossible for the youth to stowaway as they are always busted by the port securities but President Mahama has broken that wall and expanded the port which will allow big ships to come so we can stowaway.
How many of the Takoradi boys were able to stowaway during the NPP era? They were always arrested and prosecuted. There are numerous of our brothers whose parents were unable to travel oversees but with presence of harbours they themselves have been able to travel overseas”,Mr. Nkansah stated.
Mr Nkansah has come under huge flak for openly endorsing an illegal practice which has seen some Ghanaian stowaways losing their lives after they are thrown into the high seas midway into their journey abroad.
But speaking to Kasapa FM, Solomon Nkansah stated that his condemnation by a section of the public will not get him to retract his statement, adding that stowaway is the version of galamsey (illegal mining) for coastal dwellers especially in the Western Region, which has become a way of life for the residents.
However in an interview on Kasapa FM, the President of SEWA Foundation, Jones Owusu Yeboah condemned Solomon Nkansah’s comment saying as an official of the ruling party, he should have been the last person to have made such utterances.
“A recent human trafficking tier two watch list report said this government is not doing well in fighting illegal migration and fighting human trafficking and the Americans are considering denying Ghana of some freebies due to our poor performance. Then Solomon Nkansah who Communications Officer of the ruling party comes out openly to say he encourages stowaway.”
He added: “Meanwhile, this government has not thought of even going to the aid of the thousands of Ghanaians who’re stranded in Kuwait and Saudi Arabea and yet Solomon Nkansah is encouraging more Ghanaians to go abroad using illegal means. He has demonstrated clearly that he knows the intricacies of the stowaway practice. He should be arrested and questioned for all you may know he may be facilitating stowaway.” Jones Owusu Yeboah noted.
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