Over 12,000 Ghanaian deported from around the world since 2020 

As of November 2024, a total of 12,646 Ghanaians have been deported from various countries over the past five years, according to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).  

The deportees include 8,186 males and 4,459 females. 

The majority of deportations occurred from countries including Libya, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Canada. 

Madam Yaa Oppong Opoku-Agyeman, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration in charge of the Migration Information Centre for Returnees at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), disclosed this during an event in Accra to commemorate International Migrants Day.  

The event was organized by the SEWA Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Airports Company Limited and other partners. 

It was on the theme “Safe Migration: Building Bridges, Not Barriers.” 

Madam Agyeman noted that 2022 saw the highest number of deportations, with 3,028 Ghanaians being returned, including 1,813 males and 1,215 females.  

In 2020, there were 1,143 deportations (657 males and 485 females), while 2021 saw 2,881 deportations, consisting of 1,557 males and 1,324 females. 

Madam Agyeman said the country recorded the highest deportation figure in 2022 where 3,028 Ghanaians made up of 1813 males and 1215 females were returned. 

She noted that in 2020, some 1,143 deportations were recorded with 657 being males and 485 being females while 2,881 deportations made up of 1557 males and 1324 females were recorded in 2021. 

“In 2023, we had 1889 males and 861 females and a total 2750. And in 2024 up to November, we have had 2,269 males and 574 females making a total of 2,843,” she added. 

Madam Agyeman said that responsible migration contributed to national development through remittances, knowledge transfer, personal development, and the representation and honour of the host country on the international stage. 

“On the contrary, when migration is irregular in the form of stowaway, traveling through the desert, human trafficking, improper documentation, and irregular or overstayed, it could lead to the following, deportation or repatriation, loss of life, sexual exploitation, loss of vital body organs, depression, forced labor, detention, among others,” she added. 

She reiterated the commitment of GIS to support Ghanaians travel through the proper channel outside the shores of this country. 

Mrs. Selma Enyonam Tsatey, Secretary of SEWA Foundation said Ghana could learn from best practices and become a top exporter of labour by equipping youth for opportunities outside the country. 

“By designing and implementing robust training and recruitment programmes, Ghana can create legitimate pathways for our young people,” she said. 

She called for the reevaluation of visa policies to make traveling easier and enhance the support capabilities of Ghanaian embassies to provide accurate information. 

Mr. Bright Opoku Appiah, a returning Ghanaian traveller called on government to create the conducive environment for citizens to migrate and contribute to the development of local economy. 

The general theme for the commemoration of this year’s event was “The Human and Labour Rights of Workers Must Be Respected and Protected Across All Borders.” 

Source: GNA 

The post Over 12,000 Ghanaian deported from around the world since 2020  appeared first on Ghana Business News.