Over 1500 Ghanaians Deported Between 2008 and June 2009

Statistics at the Ghana Immigration Service indicate that between January 2008 and June this year (2009), over 1573 Ghanaians have been deported home from various destinations including Europe, Asia and even some African countries. These are Ghanaians who were identified to have over stayed in their host countries without legal documents and others who attempted to travel with fake documents but were apprehended and repatriated. Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, Belinda Adwoa Silca Anim made the revelation at a Public Education Campaign Against Undocumented Travelling at the Madina market. It was organized by the MIB with support from the Criminal Investigations Department, AENEAS Project on countering document fraud, Registrar-General�s Department, Births and Deaths Registry and the Passport Office. DSI Belinda Adwoa Silca Anim said the programme was organized by the Migration Information Bureau of the Immigration Service to educate the public on the hazards, risk and exploitation some Ghanaians face in their attempt to travel with forged documents. She cited instances where some illegal immigrants either attempt to cross the Sahara desert to get to Libya and continue to Italy or cross the Mediterranean Sea using small fishing boats to gain entry into Spain. According to her, most of these migrants needlessly die in their bid to seek greener pastures in Europe. �The forms of oppressive hostilities and exploitation of Ghanaians who travel without proper documentation is becoming a great worry to the immigration service which is ready to intensify its education to discourage travelling with falsified documents and other unfavourable conditions,� she stated.