2,178 Ghanaians seeking protection, asylum in Italy

About 2,178 Ghanaians are seeking international protection and political asylum in Italy, Dr Liliane Murekatete, Founder and Executive Director of Ecology of the Migratory Flow (EMF) has said.

Quoting statistics from the Italian Ministry, the Founder and Executive Director said since 2001, Karibu, a Non- Governmental Organization had spent about 26.4 Million EUROS to assist 2,135 Africans including Ghanaians.

She said there are however 5,414 Ghanaians, who are legal residents and are actively pursuing their activities with the freedoms that they deserve as obedient residents.

A news statement signed by the Founder and Executive Director of EMF and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the EMF is an international and humanitarian organization, specialized in migration issues with the mission of creating awareness to prospective migrants in order to dissuade them from embarking on uncertain journeys to Europe and other continents for greener pastures.

The EMF also helps the transitory migrant, stuck in the transition countries of the Maghreb to come back home and assist legally, financially and socially to migrants willing to return to their countries of origin.

Dr Murakatete, who currently is in Ghana has held consultative meetings with the Ministers of Interior, Employment and Labour Relations, Gender, Children and Social Protection and Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations.

Dr Murakatete said she was concerned about Ghana because her outfit, with the collaboration with her mother organization-KARIBU, was providing accommodation, healthcare, food and skills training to Ghanaians, and has over the years spent about 26.4 Million Euros on Ghanaians and other Africans.

She said the support and skills training was aimed relocating them in Ghana to live dignified lives by the first quarter of 2017.

Dr Murakatete said her visit to Ghana is to understand the major causes of irregular immigration of Ghanaians to Italy and to discuss with officials on the way forward on the movement of Ghanaians to Italy and other European countries.

She called for partnership from both public and private organizations in Ghana to support her to make illegal Ghanaians resident in Italy comfortable.

The Executive Director, who has served as Assistant Officer in the Italian Parliament and rose through the ranks to become the Acting Personal Represntative of the Italian Prime Minister for Africa and G8-Africa said it was a calling and duty to help Africans stranded outside their countries.