Government Urges Safe, Legal Migration Pathways as 144 Stranded Ghanaians Return from Libya
The Government has urged citizens to avoid irregular migration and use legal travel channels.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave this advice when one hundred and forty-four (144) stranded Ghanaian migrants were returned home from Libya under the International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM) Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) Programme on Tuesday in Accra.
The returnees arrived at Kotoka International Airport in two batches about 20 minutes apart and were received by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Department of Social Welfare, the Ghana Health Service and other agencies involved in migrant protection and reintegration.
The evacuation was carried out through a partnership between the Government of Ghana and the International Organisation for Migration to assist Ghanaian nationals stranded in conflict-affected and high-risk transit countries, including Libya.
Upon arrival, the returnees underwent immigration and health screening before receiving food, psychosocial support and transportation assistance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the migrants would also benefit from reintegration programmes designed to help them rebuild their lives after returning home.
“They will also be enrolled in reintegration programmes aimed at supporting their successful return to their communities through livelihood assistance, vocational skills training and other socio-economic empowerment initiatives, subject to individual assessments,” it said.
The government said it remains committed to protecting the rights and welfare of Ghanaians living abroad and thanked the International Organisation for Migration and other partners for supporting the humanitarian evacuation exercise.
“The Government of Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Ghanaian citizens abroad and expressed appreciation to the International Organisation for Migration and other partners for their continued support in facilitating voluntary humanitarian evacuation exercises and promoting the safe reintegration of returning evacuees,” it noted.
The latest evacuation comes as Ghana continues to support nationals facing hardship in countries affected by conflict and instability, while strengthening efforts to discourage irregular migration.
The government urged prospective migrants to make informed decisions, use legal migration pathways and avoid the dangers associated with irregular migration and human smuggling networks.
The Ministry said it would continue working with the IOM, Ghana’s diplomatic missions and relevant state institutions to provide consular assistance to Ghanaians in distress and promote safe, orderly and regular migration.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
