Accra – A charter flight from Libya carrying 138 Ghanaians (135 men and 3 women) who wished to return home voluntarily landed at 4pm on Thursday, 27 July 2017.  These migrants, who opted for a humanitarian voluntary return to Ghana, are among the many Ghanaians living in irregular situations in Libya, often in very difficult conditions. Many of them had spent months and even years in detention centers there.

In what is now quite a regular procedure, IOM, the UN Migration Agency, conducted pre-departure interviews and medical examinations and facilitated the acquisition of travel documents and issuance of exit visas for all passengers in Libya. Upon arrival in Kotoka International Airport, the migrants were received by IOM, the Government of Ghana and airport authorities. IOM provided all returnees with food and water, support for onward transportation and immediate needs, and information regarding the processing of their reintegration. Most returnees, while happy to have been assisted to return home safely, were concerned about returning to their families empty handed and were appreciative of the fact that they will receive in-kind reintegration support.

An important registration process took place at the airport. The data collected will enable IOM to start the reintegration process for these migrants. Within the next months, and as part of the IOM-EU initiative on  Strengthening Governance of Migration and Supporting the Sustainable Reintegration of Migrants in the Republic of Ghana, IOM will be assessing the returnees’ situations on a case by case basis in order to support their sustainable reintegration in Ghana. IOM will also strive to provide continuous psychosocial support to vulnerable migrants and, where necessary any additional support to address their special needs.

This year, IOM Libya has assisted more than 5,000 stranded migrants including women return to their countries of origin.

The project, Strengthening the Governance of Migration and Supporting the Reintegration of Migrants in the Republic of Ghana, is a joint initiative between IOM and the European Union Trust Fund. Launched in May 2017, it will be implemented over a period of three years.

For further information, please contact Anita J. Wadud at IOM Ghana: Tel. +233 302 742 930 ext. 2400, Email: awadud@iom.int