Mohammed Salifu, known as Sali Baby, is a Ghanaian currently living in Pescolanciano, Italy—a town where many Ghanaians reside, though few remain for long. His story reflects the struggle, survival, and lessons learned during a challenging migration journey from Ghana to Europe.
Salifu left Ghana in 2014 but had started attempting to travel as far back as 2010. Like many young men from Kasoa, where he lived, the common route to Europe was not through a visa but via the dangerous stowaway journey through Libya. “Kasoa boys don’t like using flights because getting a visa is tough,” he explained.
In his first attempt between 2010 and 2011, he reached Libya, but the civil war broke out. He witnessed the fall of Gaddafi and extreme violence. Many of his peers lost their lives during that time, and he was forced to return to Ghana. Just 17 or 18 years old at the time, Salifu made mistakes upon his return and was arrested, spending 17 days in jail. While imprisoned at Nsawam, he encountered smugglers, politicians, and high-profile inmates. He was the youngest among the 4,000 prisoners. A man in jail listened to his story and encouraged him, and after two years, he was granted bail.
With his reputation tarnished, no skills, and no opportunities, Salifu tried to rebuild his life. He once sold petrol to survive. Later, the court discharged his case due to lack of evidence but warned that if he returned, he would face 25 years. Fearing this, he decided to take another risk through Libya in 2015.
He tried to travel through Benin but had a dream in which he saw his father, who told him his time in Ghana was over. Taking this as a sign, he cut ties with friends who encouraged the journey. He sold his TV to fund the trip and used various routes through Alaba and Aflao until he reached Agadez in Niger—a difficult phase of the journey.
In Libya, things became life-threatening. He saw people killed and suffered along the way but kept pushing forward with one goal: reaching Europe. At one point, their car was attacked while heading to the seashore to board a boat. Their driver was killed, and his friend was shot in the leg for refusing to stop when police signaled them.
Eventually, Salifu boarded an overloaded boat with 130 people. Nак£d and frightened, the engine broke down mid-sea, and he thought it was the end. Fortunately, a Russian Navy ship spotted them and alerted the German Navy, who rescued them and took them to Italy. He claimed asylum using his real story and stated that the reality of life abroad wasn’t what he expected.
“Life here is tough. You might earn €1,300–€1,500 a month, but all of it goes into rent and bills. You work hard but remain stuck. Meanwhile, boys in Ghana already have their cars and houses,” he said. “Here, we survive on credit. The European system is structured in a way that keeps you working until retirement.”
He added that settling down with a family abroad makes the burden heavier. Now 32 years old, Salifu has been in Europe for a decade. He’s traveled to countries like Malta, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden. But due to document restrictions, his legal papers from Italy are not valid elsewhere, which is why he remains based in Italy.
Salifu has never married and has no children. His mother still prays to see him return home one day and fulfill the dreams he left Ghana with. “I left Ghana at 22. It’s been 10 years. I sacrificed my life for this journey just to make my mother proud. I don’t advise anyone to go through the sea to Europe—it’s a risk that’s not worth your life.”
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