Data for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) shows that economic challenges, high cost of living and lack of employment opportunities in Ghana are the major causes that propel irregular migration within Ghanaian youth.
More so, another data revealed that unemployed nurses in the country are ready to migrate to other countries to seek greener pastures even if it requires them to use irregular means.
This was made know when the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, H. E. José Javier Blanco Navarrete and the Interior attaché to the Spanish Embassy in Ghana, Juan Ignacio Rico Vanez paid a working visit to the Migration Information Center (MIC) in Tamale.
The Second in Command of the Centre, ASI. Mohammed Zulkarinain took them through a thorough presentation on the activities of the Centre since its establishment to date.
He outlined the numerous sensitization programs in the Tamale metropolis and some suburbs, which educated participants on the dangers to irregular migration and the need to seek advice on migration issues from the migration information centre.
The Ambassador on his part indicated that the European Union is putting measures in place to collaborate with the Spanish government as well as the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), to roll out projects to equip indigenes with some requisite job skills, to enable them have a sustainable means of livelihood.
H.E. José Javier Blanco Navarrete said it will go a long way to discourage irregular migrants from conceiving the idea of embarking on such perilous journeys through the Sahel in search of “greener pastures”.
He further advised the GIS to access opportunities offered by the “MigraSafe” component under the “Pubic Foundation for Administration and Policy” (FIAPP) initiative, to assist the Centre in achieving its mandate.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Regional Commander, ACI. Francis Yaw Tachie thanked the Ambassador and the Spanish government for their unflinching support for the Ghana Immigration Service and the country as a whole.
He promised that the Centre will continue to expand its activities to cover other parts of the Northern sector of the country and that all resources will be put to good use.
Source:Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif
