A report by the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) has indicated that Ghana is among five countries in West Africa with the largest number of irregular migrants.
Brong Ahafo Region was noted for having the most number of irregular migrants in Ghana. The report stated that this was a result of strong cultural and societal factors that push individuals into dangerous migration behaviour with insufficient information.
Caritas Ghana, a charity organisation of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC), which presented the report, added that IOM showed that in 2016, about 320 to 350 migrants passed through Agadez and Niger on daily basis.
Out of this figure, 90% of these migrants from West Africa who transit through Libya, Algeria and Niger are often met with harsh conditions.
Interviews conducted by Caritas Ghana revealed that migrants are all the time faced with instances of abuse, sexual violence and violations of basic human rights on their adventurous journey.
Speaking at the launch of the National Migration Project and the Outdooring of Caritas Ghana Strategic and Advocacy Plans on the title ‘Regional Right to Roam, Return and Rest’, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, Samuel Zan Akologo stated that information from the Ghana Immigration Service on irregular migration indicated that in 2016, 1,968 migrants were deported to Ghana.
He added that the number increased in 2017 when the United States (US) decided to deport 7,000 Ghanaian nationals back.
Mr Akologo noted that in Africa, Ghana was among the leading countries with irregular migration.
The shocking fact, he intimated, was that a substantial number of irregular migrants perish in the Sahara and Mediterranean Sea in their attempt to reach Europe.
However, the good news, he said, was that the African Union (AU) has taken migration issues very seriously, adding that the AU’s Revised Migration Policy Framework for Africa and Plan of Action 2018 to 2027 and the African Union Agenda 2063 would help the continent.
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