Three stowaways arrested: We wanted to see Europe but we are still seeing Tema

Three Ghanaian stowaways hoping to open a new chapter of their lives in Europe have ended up in Tema, their old life.

The stowaways, 45-year-old Emmanuel Agyei; 45-year-old Samuel Yalley; and 46-year-old Akesse Francis Alan; have been repatriated to Ghana.

They went as far as Namibian waters when they stole their way onboard the vessel, MV Kota Lumba.

The three climbed into the vessel in late September, using a bamboo ladder on the blind side of the ship’s crew, the GNA has reported.

According to the GNA they had no idea where the ship on which they hid was heading. But they were confident the destination would be better than Ghana.

But days into the journey into the unknown, they were nabbed.

They were transferred to a sister vessel, Kota Salam at Walvis Bay anchorage in Namibia.

That vessel brought them back to Tema.

The three had hoped for greener pastures, but after days on the ocean, the land on which they stepped again was good old Tema where their hustle to make ends meet began – and is set to continue.

The pressure to seek better economic fortunes continues to fuel stowaway attempts across Africa.

In August 2019, seven stowaways were arrested in Tema in two separate incidents. Two of them, Ghanaian teenagers, and the five were Nigerians.

The Ghanaian teens from Western and Central regions had hoped to reach Belgium. During a routine inspection mid-way, they were found in the engine compartment of the MSC Dymphia vessel.

They got to Belgium shores but not on Belgium land. The boys, 15 years and 16 years were put back on board MSC Katyanyni, at the port of Antwerp in Belgium which was bound for the Tema Port.

The five Nigerians had attempted to stow away on board a vessel in a Nigerian port.

But when the vessel docked at Tema port en route to Europe, their preferred destination, the five were arrested.