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07.04.2009 General News

25% of immigrants die on journeys to Europe

07.04.2009 LISTEN
By Florence Gbolu - Ghanaian Chronicle

Research shows that 25 per cent of immigrants die before reaching their destination on every trip made, and this is as a result of rigid foreign policy that exists in developing countries.

It was in this regard that Alhaji Nuhu Alhassan, representative of Immigrants in Provincial Assembly in Italy, is calling on government to review the foreign policy as stated in its manifesto.

He is further calling on the government to make the Ghana Immigration Service a frontline in educating people in the country on the effect of opting for illegal means to travel outside the country.

In his view, this education could be in partnership with host countries, and supported by foreign donors, to reduce the high rate of illegal immigrants and hardships that exist in foreign continents.

He was however quick to add that this education would only be effective, if Ghanaians recognise their problems and avail themselves to learn.

Alhaji Nuhu, is visiting the country to inspect two primary school projects being embarked upon at Ahafo Ano South District in the Ashanti Region.

The project, according to him, was in collaboration with the province of the Macerata Commune of Macerata, and the Ghanaian Association in Marche Region.

The project, which is estimated at $50,000, would be completed soon, he underscored, giving the assurance that in the near future, more educational projects would be embarked upon, as well as logistics and infrastructure.

He stated further that citizens living in the Diaspora played major role in the development of a nation, and therefore urged the government to recognise its citizens abroad, and see them as part of government, and involve them in most of its decision-making processes.

“A lot of Ghanaians living abroad are willing to come home and invest but are scared because the support is not there for them to do so.”

Ghanaians, he said, are hardworking people, and are well-recognised in the Italian labour force therefore, if backed by government, they would be confident to come down to work.

Alhaji Nuhu stated that the time had come for government to collaborate with other governments on the continent, to ensure that life became more flexible for immigrants. He was of the view that Ghanaian tourism had improved, and that the time had come for it to be sold to Europeans through integration.

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