"African Media Urged to Expose \u201cMigration Illusions\u201d as Youth Continue to Fall Prey to Exploitative Schemes"

" African Media Urged to Expose \u201cMigration Illusions\u201d as Youth Continue to Fall Prey to Exploitative Schemes \r\n\r\nAfrican journalists must move beyond superficial coverage and take a central role in debunking myths about migration and uncovering exploitative recruitment practices, the African Leaders Network for Democracy, Emergence and Renewal (R\u00e9seau\u2011LEADER) said on Friday at a press conference in Accra.\r\n\r\nSpeaking at an event themed \u201cThe Role of the Media in Addressing the Illusions and Realities of African Youth Migration,\u201d network leaders urged reporters, editors, and broadcasters to investigate the networks and narratives that lure thousands of young people off the continent with promises of prosperity. The conference took place on August 22, 2025; a follow\u2011up session with migration experts and institutional partners is scheduled to continue discussions in Accra on September 22, 2025.\r\n\r\n\u201cEvery day, thousands of African youths are lured by embellished narratives of success in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere,\u201d said Nana Bafour Odefour Boamh Darko, Mawerehene of Akyem Adadientam. \u201cToo often those dreams end in abuse, exploitation, or life\u2011threatening situations. Journalists must shine a light on these truths.\u201d\r\n\r\nDelegates singled out several troubling patterns. The event highlighted the \u201cAlabuga Start\u201d case in Russia, in which young African women were reportedly recruited under the pretext of training but allegedly subjected to exploitation. Organizers called on the press to pursue rigorous investigative reporting to clarify the many \u201cgrey areas\u201d around that program.\r\n\r\nSpeakers also pointed to long\u2011documented abuses linked to the kafala sponsorship system in parts of the Middle East, where domestic workers\u2014many from Africa\u2014have faced passport confiscation, unpaid wages, poor living conditions and physical or psychological violence. Similar reports were raised about young Africans drawn to training or job offers in parts of Asia who later found themselves in conditions close to forced labour and largely invisible to local authorities.\r\n\r\nIn a declaration issued from the conference \u2014 the Accra Declaration on the Role of the Media in Addressing the Illusions and Realities of African Youth Migration \u2014 R\u00e9seau\u2011LEADER spelled out concrete expectations for the press. Journalists and newsrooms were urged to investigate and dismantle myths, dedicate airtime and digital platforms to awareness\u2011raising, and work with community leaders to relay accurate information in national and local languages.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe urge media professionals to become true allies in this struggle,\u201d the declaration said. \u201cTrapped migration is not only an individual tragedy; it is a collective threat to the future of our continent.\u201d\r\n\r\nDr Jean Emmanuel, chairperson of R\u00e9seau\u2011LEADER, also addressed young Africans directly: \u201cSuccess is not achieved overnight. If your goal is to make it big by travelling to some Western countries, you may be putting your life at risk.\u201d He called for reality\u2011based media campaigns that mobilise youth and amplify the voices of survivors so their testimonies can serve as warnings.\r\n\r\nThe Accra Declaration went further in calling for governments to probe dubious recruitment programs and for survivors\u2019 testimonies to be elevated in mainstream reporting. It urged radio, TV and digital outlets to partner with civil society and policymakers in building \u201ca united front against deceptive narratives and exploitative networks.\u201d\r\n\r\nJournalists and media organisations attending the Accra sessions said they would explore collaborative investigative projects, cross\u2011border reporting partnerships, and community\u2011level outreach to counter misinformation that often spreads on social media and through informal recruiters.\r\n\r\nR\u00e9seau\u2011LEADER said it will continue to convene stakeholders and monitor progress. The next workshop in Accra on September 22 aims to produce a practical roadmap for responsible migration reporting and mechanisms for journalist collaboration across the continent."

"African Media Urged to Expose \u201cMigration Illusions\u201d as Youth Continue to Fall Prey to Exploitative Schemes"

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