The National Youth Authority has expressed shock at the brazen sale of young Africans into slavery in Libya.

"It is a revulsing return to 15th century slavery at a time when our common humanity and dignity is a universal human right", the NYA said in a statement.

The NYA says the revelations must be used as the tipping point in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation of Africans.

The world is waking up the shocking practice in which hundreds of people are being auctioned in modern day slave markets in Libya for as little as $400.

Libya is the main transit hub for refugees and migrants attempting to reach southern Europe by sea. They are coming from countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Eritrea, Guinea, Ivory Coast,, Gambia, Senegal, Sudan and Somalia.

The power vacuum in Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi has made human trafficking and people smuggling a booming trade.

France has requested an "urgent" meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss this treatment of migrants in Libya.

The Foreign ministry has said three Ghanaians have reported that they were sold in Libya as slaves.

Joining in the national conversation, the NYA said the trade while condemnable is a signal to African governments to the huge responsibility it has to create jobs and give hope to millions on the continent.

It urged ECOWAS and the African Union to intervene in the migration crisis and quicken its dialogue the European Union to combat human trafficking

The National Youth Authority said whiles it recognised that unemployment is the main motive for migration, the levels of desperation in recent times calls for short-term solutions.

The Authority said it would be embarking on an aggressive campaign to discourage desperate young people from traveling on what has been described as the most desperate journey on earth.

The NYA believes religious leaders can play a very powerful role in dissuading the youth from joining other African nationals to Libya.

"The pulpit and the mosque are places where an extraordinary power of motivation  can be leveraged to provide hope to the desperate", a statement said.

The NYA urged Ghanaian youth to channel their "Go-to-Europe-against-all-odds" desire into opportunities in agriculture.

The Authority said the returns on farming is good enough to capture the attention of young people.

"There is the Planting for Food and Jobs programme ready to embrace any determined young Ghanaian who wants to farm", the statement indicated.