No Ghanaian has been sold off as a slave in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
In a footage released by CNN from Libya, young men from sub-Saharan Africa are seen being auctioned as farm workers.
Many are concerned that some Ghanaians may have been caught up in the matter, but Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister has said that no Ghanaian is involved.
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It, however, said that it was facilitating the return of about 168 Ghanaians who have been detained in Libya.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the 168, who were thought to be victims of a slave trade activity in Libya, were rather illegal migrants arrested by the Libyan government.
“Following disturbing reports of African nationals being sold off as slaves in Libya, the Ghana Mission in Malta, with concurrent accreditation from Libya, paid a consular visit to the three detention centers in Tripoli, namely, Tajoora, Trek Al Sika and Trek Mater.
The purpose was to ascertain the veracity of the claims, assess their condition, and offer assistance to those detainees identified as Ghanaians, among many other illegal migrants held at these centers.
It emerged that 168 Ghanaian detainees who were identified, were not part of the slave trade as alleged, but had rather been arrested on illegal immigration charges, and were already being held in detention camps,” the statement said.
The Ministry added that it was working together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to get those Ghanaians back into the country.
“The undocumented Ghanaians were immediately issued with the necessary travel documents to facilitate their repatriation to Ghana on a chartered flight, with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM),” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry said it is holding talks with some stakeholders to get a consulate opened in Libya, as the existing one had to be closed down during the Libyan crisis.