The Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Ghana, on Tuesday, 14th July 2026, facilitated the safe return of one hundred and forty-four (144) Ghanaian migrants from Libya under its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) Programme.
The returnees arrived at the Accra International Airport in two batches. Upon arrival at about 20 minutes apart, they were received by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Department of Social Welfare, the Ghana Health Service and other key stakeholders involved in migrant protection and reintegration.
The evacuation forms part of the longstanding partnership between the Government of Ghana and IOM to provide safe, orderly and dignified return for Ghanaian nationals who become stranded abroad, particularly in conflict-affected and high-risk migration transit countries such as Libya.
Upon arrival, the returnees underwent immigration and health screening and received immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, psychosocial support and transportation assistance. They will also be enrolled in reintegration programmes aimed at supporting their successful return to their communities through livelihood assistance, vocational skills training and other socio-economic empowerment initiatives, subject to individual assessments.
The Government of Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Ghanaian citizens abroad and expressed appreciation to the International Organization for Migration and other partners for their continued support in facilitating voluntary humanitarian evacuation exercises and promoting the safe reintegration of returning evacuees.
The Government also reiterated the importance of regular and safe migration, urging prospective migrants to make informed decisions and to utilise legal migration pathways while avoiding the dangers associated with irregular migration and human smuggling networks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work closely with the International Organization for Migration, Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad and relevant national institutions to provide consular assistance to Ghanaian nationals in distress and to strengthen efforts aimed at promoting safe, orderly and regular migration.
