The Member of Parliament for Kintampo South and a member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Felicia Adjei, has undertaken a five-day working visit to Libya aimed at finding solutions to the challenges facing Ghanaian migrants in the North African country.
The visit focused particularly on migrants from the Bono East and Bono regions, many of whom travelled to Libya through irregular migration routes in search of jobs and better economic opportunities.
During her visit, the MP engaged members of the Ghanaian community in Libya and listened to first-hand accounts of the difficulties they face, including unemployment, lack of legal documentation, poor working conditions, exploitation and limited access to healthcare.
Migrants also raised concerns about the constant threat of arrest and detention, with some reporting experiences of physical abuse, extortion, forced labour and human trafficking.
“We will urge our friends from Ghana not to take the illegal route to Libya if you don’t have the documents,” one migrant advised.
As part of her engagements, Ms Adjei held discussions with senior Libyan officials, including Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, President of the High State Council Dr Mohamed Muftah Takala and other government representatives on the welfare and legal status of Ghanaians living in Libya.
The discussions also explored opportunities for stronger cooperation between Ghana and Libya to promote safe, regular and documented migration while creating legitimate employment opportunities for Ghanaian workers.
According to the MP, enhanced collaboration between the two countries could help reduce dependence on smugglers and dangerous desert routes used by many young people seeking opportunities abroad.
Felicia Adjei also announced plans to establish a skills training and migration resource centre in the Kintampo South Constituency to equip young people with vocational skills and educate them on safe migration practices.
The centre is expected to provide information on legal migration channels, documentation requirements and employment opportunities while raising awareness about the dangers associated with irregular migration.
She said the initiative would work with government agencies, development partners, private sector institutions and Libyan authorities to develop skills programmes linked to available job opportunities.
The MP further pledged to advocate bilateral labour agreements that would allow qualified Ghanaians to travel and work in Libya legally under clearly defined contracts and protections.
She also expressed concern about stranded migrants who wish to return home but lack the financial resources or documentation to do so.
Ms. Adjei said she would engage the Government of Ghana, the Ghanaian diplomatic mission in Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders to support the voluntary return and reintegration of affected migrants.
During the visit, she also held discussions with officials of the International Organization for Migration in Libya on migration management and support mechanisms for stranded Ghanaians.
The Kintampo South MP said the experiences shared by migrants during the visit would be presented to policymakers in Ghana to help shape interventions on youth employment, migration governance and migrant reintegration.
Libya has for years served as both a destination and transit point for migrants from Ghana and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa seeking employment or attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
According to the International Organization for Migration, 1,597 Ghanaian migrants were assisted to return home from Libya in 2024 through nine chartered flights. Since 2017, more than 8,000 Ghanaians have benefited from voluntary return programmes after becoming stranded or facing hardship along irregular migration routes.
Felicia Adjei said she remains committed to translating lessons from the visit into sustainable programmes that provide young people with opportunities and accurate information before embarking on journeys abroad.
