Youth Action for Development Organisation (YADO), an NGO dedicated to educating the youth on the dangers of illegal migration, has urged the youth take their studies seriously rather than nursing the ambition of traveling to Europe to seek greener pastures.

Munkaila Amin, the Executive Director of YADO who is a "returnee", said the trauma that those who embarked on the journey through the desert and the high seas to Europe underwent was very painful and could have serious psychological effects on them.

Mr. Amin said this when he and some members of the NGO went on a float through some of the principal streets of the Metropolis to raise awareness on the dangers of illegal migration.

They carried placards some of which read: "Value your life's, save your life's from illegal migration; it can kill you", "thousands of the youth have died on the desert and in the sea", "Avoid illegal migration and focus on your studies" and "don't believe all the stories about Europe".

Narrating his personal experiences, he said one had to travel long distances without food and water and was also exposed to the vagaries of the weather and armed robbery.

He said sometimes thirst could kill while the females among them stood the risk of being raped to death.

Mr Amin said after all these experiences, those who were lucky to survive and reach Europe find out that all is not so rosy as painted.

Mr. Amin advised the youth to stay in the country and take their studies seriously so that one day they could be in a position to make the country a better place for all Ghanaians to live in.

He said the NGO had formed clubs in some secondary schools in the Northern Region to educate the students on the dangers of illegal migration.

Source: GNA