Ghanaian Church leaders have warned young Africans of the dangers of faced by migrants across the Mediterranean and urged them to "stay in their home countries and work hard to earn their daily keep".

The warning comes in a joint statement from the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference.

The Church leaders call on African governments to create employment opportunties and better environments for young people. They say that young people "must not assume that Europe and other places outside Africa guarantee automatic comforts and pleasure".

The Mediterranean has become a crisis zone because of the large numbers attempting to cross to Europe in boats that are usually ill-equipped and over-crowded. European countries have scaled up their relief and rescue efforts after tragic sinkings in which hundreds have died and a British warship, HMS Bulwark, brought more than 400 people to safety two days ago after they were found 40 miles from the Libyan coast in inflatable boats.

However, a long-term solution to the crisis is not in sight and countries including Britain have been resistant to a European Union proposals to allow refugees to settle. Home Secretary Theresa May said that Britain would not back a resettlement quota and that some refugees would have to return home.

In their statement, the Church leaders also referred to the persecution of Christians in Africa and elsewhere. "We strongly condemn these atrocities and call on all Ghanaians to pray for an end to these senseless killings," they said.

They commended the National Chief Imam, Sheik Dr Usumanu Nuhu Sharubutu, for an appeal to leaders of the Muslim communities in Ghana to caution members of their congregations against extremism and his appeal to imams to look out for foreign infiltrators into their congregations. "As Ghanaians, we must continue to live in peace and harmony with one another and eschew all acts and tendencies that may bring ethnic, religious or political conflicts to Ghana," they said.