By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, (Bono), April 2, GNA – Madam Stella Yobat, the Second in Command (2IC) at the Migration Information Centre (MIC) of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in the Bono Region has cautioned the youth against travelling abroad through unapproved routes.
She said available statistics showed 600 migrants died on the Mediterranean between January and February 2026, worrying that despite the dangers associated with it and intensified public education, the Bono and Bono East regions ranked top in irregular migration.
Madam Yobat was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of the Migrant Media Action Project (MMAct Project) in Sunyani, a project being implemented by the Song-Ba Empowerment Centre, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO).
She said figures for the deaths were likely to be more because some of the deaths were unreported and urged the youth who desired to travel abroad to visit the centre for advice and guidance.
Madam Yobat explained that the MICs and the Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) were set up to provide information, counseling and legal pathways as well as creating awareness about irregular migration.
The centres also help with the successful reintegration of returnees, saying that presently it had offices at Sunyani in Bono and Techiman in the Bono East Region, urging potential travelers to make use of the offices.
Mr Kwasi Agyapong, the Programme Officer of the Song-Ba Empowerment Centre explained that the centre was a youth and women-centred NGO dedicated to empowering survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) As well as migrant returnees.
He said it worked to give a voice to the voiceless as well as promote the dignity and safety of vulnerable people and economically empowered them through advocacy and employable skills development training.
Mr Agyapong said the NGO also builds community action, enabling vulnerable groups to overcome stigmatization as well as defending their fundamental human rights and dignity and to support them to realize their potential.
In highlight, he said the MMAct Project sought to promote safe migration options, positive alternatives, freedom of expression, as access reliable migration information.
“Often migration decisions are shaped by inaccurate or misleading information, particularly through social media with severe consequences of exploitation and human rights abuses”, Mr Agyapong stated.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey