12,646 Ghanaians deported since 2020

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has revealed that 12,646 Ghanaians have been deported from various countries between 2020 and November 2024.
This startling figure includes 8,186 males and 4,459 females, with most deportations originating from Libya, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Canada.

Highest deportations recorded in 2022
According to Madam Yaa Oppong Opoku-Agyeman, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration in charge of the Migration Information Centre for Returnees at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), 2022 recorded the highest deportation figures.
A total of 3,028 Ghanaians were returned, comprising 1,813 males and 1,215 females.
In comparison, 2020 saw 1,143 deportations, with 657 males and 485 females. In 2021, 2,881 deportations were recorded, including 1,557 males and 1,324 females.
By 2023, the figure rose to 2,750, with 1,889 males and 861 females.
For 2024, up to November, 2,843 deportations were documented, consisting of 2,269 males and 574 females.

Irregular migration’s dire consequences
Madam Agyeman highlighted the challenges associated with irregular migration.
She explained that unsafe migration practices, such as stowing away, traveling through the desert, human trafficking, and overstaying visas, often result in deportation, repatriation, or more severe consequences.
“Improper migration can lead to loss of life, sexual exploitation, loss of vital body organs, depression, forced labor, detention, and other severe outcomes,” she noted.
On the other hand, Madam Agyeman emphasized the positive contributions of responsible migration, such as remittances, knowledge transfer, personal development, and the honor brought to the country by successful migrants.

Advocating for safe migration
The revelations were made during an event in Accra to mark International Migrants Day, organized by the SEWA Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Airports Company Limited and other partners.
The event was themed “Safe Migration: Building Bridges, Not Barriers.”
Mrs. Selma Enyonam Tsatey, Secretary of SEWA Foundation, called for strategic interventions to equip Ghanaian youth with the skills needed to access international opportunities.
“By designing and implementing robust training and recruitment programs, Ghana can create legitimate pathways for our young people,” she said.
Mrs. Tsatey also advocated for revising visa policies to ease travel processes and enhance the capacity of Ghanaian embassies to provide accurate migration information.

Call for national support
Returning traveler Mr. Bright Opoku Appiah urged the government to foster an environment that encourages responsible migration.
He emphasized that creating a conducive economic and social environment could help citizens migrate safely and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development.

A global commitment to migrants’ rights
The commemoration was held under the theme, “The Human and Labour Rights of Workers Must Be Respected and Protected Across All Borders.”
This theme underscores the importance of ethical treatment and the protection of migrant workers worldwide.
As Ghana grapples with the high deportation figures, stakeholders emphasize the need for stronger policies and programs to encourage safe and structured migration.
With coordinated efforts, the country can address the challenges of irregular migration while maximizing the benefits of responsible migration.