The words of his father encouraged him to stay home and with hard work, he can achieve his dreams but the words from his friends pushed him to travel.
The Mediterranean route is an unapproved route to Europe.
After writing a bunch of letters to seek employment the situation didn't change for Manu, he was still a broke young man who aspired to build his father a mansion at age 35.
"Not all dreams are meant to come true",
was the quote he abhorred most, he had promised his father more than he had said to himself.
Manu's father was a single parent who took care of the boy after his mother died in a motor accident. The boy completed high school with grade 11 but couldn't further on to chase his favorite white color job as an Economist due to financial difficulties.
Mr.Addo couldn't finance his son's education at the tertiary level due to financial plights but that didn't dispirit Manu from fulfilling his promises.
In his community, the primary occupation of the people was farming, it was difficult for one to go to university because their parents earn some wages to cover one's tuition fees. He wasn't the only one who couldn't go to university, Kojo, Abdul, and Kwame his childhood also couldn't make it to the top as poverty pulled them down. The four friends worked as laborers for the new construction project in Tafo, making some dimes to feed their homes.
One afternoon, when the sun has set the four sat under a mango tree to chatter about the hardships in their community. Kwame told them the news about the Mediterranean route to Europe, the four agreed to embark on that trip. This gave them new hope to wipe off the chapter of poverty from their lives.
A lot of people died on the Mediterranean route to Europe but the four cared less about the number of casualties, Manu insisted that they should leave the town.
Once his father told him
" it takes courageous men to be successful "
he believed it and entrusted his friends.
"Once others made it to Europe it's possible ". The four agreed.
They privately worked extra hours to save a large sum of money for the journey, they knew their parents wouldn't permit them to pursue that dream of traveling to Europe on foot but the stubbornness of a child always leads him to imperilment, so they left without uttering a word to their parents.
More than 250 nonnatives from different African countries embarked on the Mediterranean route to Europe, of the 250 only 150 made it to Libya, some perished from thirst, hunger, and others were killed by Bedouins but luckily for the four, they got to Libya after a 3 months walk.
"In Libya, one could've stayed to make it in life but for the loss of interest in a field the farmer would never sow a seed"
Many African students would choose to work as an undertaker in Europe than being a Nurse in Africa because
1. Economic Hardship
2. The leaders are crooked and unscrupulous.
Manu and his friends met some industrial staffers who were determined to employ them as an interpreter but when they realized that Europe was a few hours away from them, they rejected these offers.
The four went to the coastal belt and paid for a boat, one boat was loaded with 59 people some being parents, children, and young adults.
Out of the 59 one was asked to use the compass and checked the sterndrive.
They started singing and shouting out for joy as soon as they departed, for some, they have been able to pursue their dream to Europe.
The four friends looked at each other and their eyes were filled with joy,
"If we were cowards, we would have been laborers for life". Manu shouted
" Now people will respect us and we will be called Boga (A person who lives in Europe or America) Abdul uttered.
The people spoke different languages as they came from different countries, one couldn't hear the other if they are not related.
An hour after their departure, the boat started to slow down within a twinkle of an eye the sterndrive blew off, and they got stuck in the middle of the sea.
Luckless for them the Italian navy had a mission to heed they had had a scuffle with the pirates on the Mediterranean sea.
8 hours passed with the boat stuck in the middle of the sea there their fate seems to have failed them, 59 strangers with distinct languages and no implied captain were difficult for one to execute orders.
12 hours passed and 7 died, their bodies were dumped into the sea for the fish to take. The night came and it became cold, they started to freeze and others were unconscious of thirst and hunger.
On the second day, 15 died and their bodies were dumped into the sea for the fish to take. Nobody knew what time it was when it started drizzling. Manu remembered his father's words,
" It takes a courageous man to be successful ",
the one who is brave enough to stay and work with plans whilst others complain and leave. He cried out his father's name as the remaining 37 were praying to their Helper to save them from drowning.
On the third day, 24 died from drowning, and Manu lost his three friends before the arrival of the Italian navy.