Jema (B/A), May 5, GNA - Nana Amponsah II, Divisional Chief of Jema Traditional Area in the Kintampo South District of Brong-Ahafo has cautioned the youth to desist from travelling abroad through the Sahara desert.

"Traveling through the desert is not only frustrating but has led to loss of precious lives over the years," he said. He appealed to the youth to concentrate on acquiring employable skills that would help them to earn a decent living in the country.

The Chief gave the advice at a forum to sensitize the people on the dangers associated with illegal migration. The programme dubbed; "Don't Trust any Connection Man," was organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Akuaba Theatre Production.

Mrs Felicia Owusu Ansah, Executive Director of Akuaba Theatre Production called on persons desirous to travel abroad to go through the normal process of acquiring a passport and visa. She said the Immigration Service was the recognized institution tasked for the processing and issuing of the Ghanaian Passport. She debunked the notion held by many that visa acquisition was cumbersome in Ghana and urged interested persons to contact the appropriate authorities for their visas instead of relying on "connection men".

Mrs Ansah said her outfit in collaboration with IOM had selected Jema, Nkoranza and Techiman in Brong-Ahafo for the sensitization exercise and would extend it to other parts of the country. Mr Eric Boakye Peasah, Counter-trafficking Field Manager of the IOM noted that there were numerous opportunities in the country that the youth could avail themselves to for a decent living. He advised parents to instil good moral values in their children and to advise them to take their education seriously so they could become responsible citizens in future. Mr Peasah said that the ordeal that some Ghanaian youth went through in some countries they travelled to was "embarrassing, humiliating and disgraceful" citing prostitution, drug addiction and cheating as examples.