The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kintampo South and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Felicia Adjei, has undertaken a five-day working visit (July 6-10, 2026) to Libya to find solutions to the plight of Ghanaian migrants and gather first-hand information about the challenges they face in the North African country.
The visit focused particularly on Ghanaians from the Bono East Region, including residents of the Bono Region, many of whom travelled to Libya through irregular and dangerous migration routes in search of employment and better economic opportunities.
During the visit, Adjei met with members of the Ghanaian community and listened to accounts of the difficulties they encounter, including unemployment, lack of legal documentation, poor working conditions, exploitation, limited access to healthcare, and the constant threat of arrest and detention.
"Some of us face physical abuse, human trafficking, extortion, and forced labour. We will urge our friends from Ghana not to take the illegal route to Libya if you don't have the documents," one irregular migrant said.
Libya has, for several years, served as both a destination and transit country for migrants from Ghana and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The journeys are often organised by smugglers and expose migrants to dehydration, hunger, violence, abandonment in the desert, and other life-threatening conditions.
Reports by international organisations have repeatedly documented serious human rights violations against migrants in Libya, including arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, trafficking, and exploitation.
The scale of Ghanaian migration through Libya has also remained a major concern. In 2024, the International Organisation for Migration assisted 1,597 Ghanaian migrants to return safely from Libya through nine charter flights. Since 2017, more than 8,000 Ghanaian migrants have reportedly received voluntary return support.
As part of her official engagements, Adjei held discussions with senior Libyan authorities, including the President of Libya, the President of the High State Council, Chairman Mohamed Muftah Takala, and other key officials. The discussions centred on the welfare, protection, and legal status of Ghanaian citizens living in Libya.
The MP also explored the possibility of establishing bilateral partnerships between relevant Ghanaian and Libyan institutions to promote safe, regular, and properly documented travel between the two countries. According to her, stronger cooperation could help create legitimate employment opportunities, protect Ghanaian workers, and reduce the number of young people relying on smugglers.
Adjei further announced plans to establish a skills training and migration resource centre in the Kintampo South Constituency to provide vocational training and educate prospective migrants about safe migration procedures.
The initiative is expected to equip young people with practical skills to secure employment or establish businesses in Ghana, while also equipping those seeking opportunities abroad with knowledge of lawful migration channels.
The MP also expressed concern about migrants who wish to return to Ghana but lack the financial resources or documentation to do so, and promised to engage relevant stakeholders to support their safe return and reintegration.
Adjei's visit to Libya was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Lady, H.E. Lordina Mahama, and the Chairman of Ghana Link Network Services, Nick Danso Adjei.
