African leaders must address problems that prompt emigration, says Cardinal Turkson

August 11, 2015

Africa’s leaders must address the problems that cause so many of their people to emigrate to Europe, argued Cardinal Peter Turkson during a visit to his native Ghana.

Cardinal Turkson, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, remarked that Africa’s leaders have been all too silent at a time when thousands of their people are desperately seeking a better life abroad. He observed that although the slave trade has been abolished, millions of Africans are still taking menial work and suffering exploitation in other lands.

For their own countries, these emigrants represent “human capital undeveloped and not invested in,” the cardinal said. He called upon African leaders to develop plans to build their nations and give young people hope for a better future.

“Some politicians, by nature, are shortsighted,” Cardinal Turkson said. “That is why we need a decent national vision to direct this shortsightedness of politicians so that we can get somewhere.”

 

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Further information:

• Politicians are shortsighted - Cardinal Turkson (StarrFM)
• Govt must protect every Ghanaian - Cardinal Turkson (Pulse)
• Make sacrifices for Ghana’s future - Cardinal Turkson (GhanaWeb)