IOM Accra has launched a six-week information campaign to promote
safe migration and to prevent trafficking and irregular migration
through and from Ghana to Europe.

The campaign, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is backed by the
Ghanaian government which, along with ECOWAS and international
organizations, is trying to counter human trafficking and irregular
migration of Ghanaians and Africans in general to Europe.

It seeks to target communities with high emigration potential in
the Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo regions as well as young people
in universities, secondary schools and youth associations.

The campaign's main message, which runs in English and two local
languages - Twi and Ga - is "Irregular Migration Threatens your
Dignity, Health and Life".  It urges Ghanaians who consider
migrating to Europe to inform themselves and invites them, when in
doubt, to call the hotline at the Migration Information Bureau set
up at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) by IOM, UNDP and GIS
where they will get objective information on the options for legal
migration.

The hotline and newly established information bureau in Accra
will also provide information to irregular migrants from the
sub-region transiting Ghana en route to EU
countries.       

The campaign includes public service announcements on national
and commerical radio and television stations, newspaper
advertisement, posters, flyers and basic facts brochures for wide
distribution. Billboards will be put up and flyers distributed by
GIS at the Aflao, Elubo and Paga border crossings and at the
departure and arrival halls at Accra's Kotoka International
Airport.

As part of the campaign, IOM and its partners will also hold
seminars and roundtable discussions in universities and in selected
high schools with Ghanaians who will share their experiences as
irregular migrants in Europe.   

For further information, please contact:

Eric Peasah

IOM Accra

Tel: +233 21 508 698

EEmail: "mailto:epeasah@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">epeasah@iom.int