Of family lands, poverty and exile

Different stories are narrated about how young people for various reasons either run
away from home or are forced to flee to safety.
The story is told of young Kwesi Adum who decided to go into farming to make a living.
He asked his father to assist him in that direction and the father gave him the go
ahead to cultivate on a family land.
Just as he was about to harvest the crops, the head of their family dropped a
bombshell that he needed the land back.
Logically, Kwesi should have been allowed to harvest the crops so that the family
head could take back the land but, the family head would not take that plea. He
wanted the land back at all cost.
The next day, Kwesi was attacked and injured in the process. Several theories came
up. Accusing fingers were pointed at those who supported the head of the family to
eject Kwesi Adum from the family land.
In our part of the world, family and land issues are very sensitive and any body
could do anything in the name of protecting family traditions and property.
Kwesi Adum was advised to leave Sunyani to save his life since he could not measure
up to the intimidation and threats from the powers that be of the family.
Kwesi Adum’s father, George Kwaku Adum saw no reason to challenge the family head
any longer, he therefore gathered some money for his son to leave town.
So on February 13, 2005, young Kwesi left for Libya . By September 29, the same
year, Kwesi found himself in Italy .
Many well meaning people have spoken against young people embarking on journeys
through the desert but until you experience certain life threatening situations, you
can not begrudge those who sometimes risk travelling through the desert.
For Kwesi Adum and many young people like him, the journey to Italy was the only
option in life since it is better living outside your country than to be killed in
it.
The troubles for Kwesi were further aggravated when somewhere last year, he had the
information that his father had died. George Kwaku Adum had been killed was the
report on lips of many folks. The old man had been under intense pressure because he
was a threat to some people in the family.
Many had the opinion simple understanding could have saved the unfortunate situation
but in times of fighting for what you think is yours, there is a thin line between
reasoning and senseless acts.
It is the opinion of many people that our family and land systems should be
sanitized to ensure greater safety for the people.
Until that is done, including putting in place adequate measures to minimize
poverty, several young healthy people would have to flee their countries for safety.

Nana Kwadw Poku
Journalist/Youth Activist