Understanding the Perception of Irregular Migration Among the Youth in the Bono East and Western Regions

Abstract

For some time now, the news of some Ghanaians getting stranded in Libya or Kuwait, or other countries; as well as the reports of maltreatments and harassment of some Ghanaian youth in some countries is becoming more and more rampant. These youths mostly embark on such journeys irregularly, using unapproved channels and live in these host countries without the right legal documentation, which is why they often endure ill treatments meted out to them. One may wonder why such able-bodied youth will want to leave a peaceful country like Ghana through such dangerous routes. There have been a lot of education through the use of documentaries among other media about the dangers of irregular migration, and yet, many Ghanaian youths brave the journey. Could these interventions be lacking something essential? This study explored the perception of irregular migration among potential migrants, returned migrants and people from their communities in two of Ghana‟s regions (Western and Bono East) to understand why they did what they did, while trying to understand their frustrations and the passions that these youths are driven by.