page_title: Migration from Ghana to Germany
section_title: Irregular migration
hierarchical_section_title: Migration from Ghana to Germany / Regular and irregular migration to Germany / Irregular migration
caption_attribution_description: P31 L.É. Eithne patrol vessel (Irish Naval Service) during Operation Triton on 15 June 2015 at 50 &amp; 70 km's NW of Tripoli (Libya)
context_page_description: The migration of Ghanaians to Germany started in the early 1950s when a West Germany policy permitted the travel of students from some African countries to Germany to further their education. This policy was to equip the students with knowledge which would be useful in their country of origin when they eventually returned.
  As of 2009, there were about 40,000 "Ghanaians with a migration background" in Germany; where "Ghanaians with a migration background" means "naturalised persons of Ghanaian origin" and "the second and third generation of Ghanaians naturalised in Germany and the children from binational partnerships who did not immigrate on their own," according to Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit.
  According to GTZ, there is a sizeable number of undocumented migrants, most of whom arrive in Germany with a valid visa but remain without a residence permit after the allowed time has elapsed.
context_section_description: Immigration from Africa to Europe through illegal means is significant. Most migrants who go on such journeys are from underdeveloped African countries looking for greener pastures in Europe. Migrants usually go to North Africa, especially Libya, which has become the primary departure point for making illegal entry into Europe. From Libya, they go by boat via the Mediterranean Sea. Some migrants also go by land through the Spanish Enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, risking severe injury and even death. Human traffickers and human smugglers have taken advantage of the situation to cash in, often lying to migrants about opportunities in Europe.
  By June 2019 IOM statistics indicated that deaths recorded on the three main Mediterranean Sea routes to Italy, Malta and Cyprus by June 2019 are at 555 people. By December 2019, the number rose to 738 with drowning, physical abuse, sexual abuse, starvation, sickness and lack of access to healthcare and dehydration are top causes of death.
  Ghanaians are reported to rank highly among migrants hoping to get to Europe though the country is more peaceful and politically stable than other countries where migrants originate. About 5,636 Ghanaians reached Italy by boat in 2016. In 2017, the Brong-Ahafo region, now divided into three regions of Ahafo, Brong, and Bono East, had the highest number of migrants. Out of 4,092 Ghanaian returnees from Libya, the highest number of 1,562, representing 38.17 percent, were from Brong Ahafo. Ashanti Region had 601, indicating 13.63 percent.
caption: A boat with migrants, off the Libyan coast
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