The International Organization on Migration (IOM) has asked the Ghana Immigration Service to intensify its operations against unlawful migration by youths in the country.

The EU in conjunction with the IOM have over the years supported the government of Ghana with public education equipment at the various Migration Information Centers across the country in a bid to reduce irregular crossing into Europe.

However, the issue persists as more and more youths due to economic situations are driven to embark on perilous journeys across the Sahara and the Mediterranean to Europe in search of greener pastures.

Speaking at the headquarters of the Immigration Service where the two organizations donated some public education equipment to the Ghana Immigration Service, the head of IOM in Ghana Sylvia Lopez-Ekra said the surest way to deal with this worrying phenomenon is to intensify education on illegal migration and encouraging the youth to use the right channels.

She said even though migration had a huge potential for development, when done the wrong way, could have negative impacts.

“Migration affects the lives of the people, the communities and the countries it is both a community strategy and an opportunity for economic betterment. Migration has a huge potential for development. However when migration is poorly managed, it can have negative impacts,” she said.

However she said that by raising awareness about the risks of illegal migration, young people could be deterred from going ahead with these dangerous travels.

“Therefore awareness raising about risk of irregular migration and the opportunities that might be available in Ghana for the youth becomes more and more crucial especially during these trying times of a global pandemic we find ourselves in.

“If people are better aware of the dangers of unsafe travelling through the Sahara desert or crossing the Mediterranean Sea in an attempt to reach Europe people will be able to take better care before making migration decisions.”