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Ghanaians Stranded In Barbados Get To Finally Pack Bags

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Government has committed over 12 million dollars to charter a plane to fly home about 50 stranded Ghanaians who travelled to Barbados last month in search of greener pastures.Dr Charles Brempong-Yeboah, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Co-operation and NEPAD, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in Accra yesterday, said ironically the Ghanaians had paid between 4,000 Ghana cedis and 10,000 Ghana cedis each to travelling agents to get to Barbados for a two-week stay. ‘The Ghanaians who got to that country with the hope of crossing over to the US, Canada and other developed countries for greener pastures have been captured on Barbados Television networks begging for alms.’

Source of Image: Modernhanna.com

ghana airlines
Source: Barbados Free Press

Barbadians have had their say on the plight of the Ghanaians who miraculously have been stranded in Barbados after their charter flight was for reasons which have puzzled Barbadians did not return to take them home. Given all that has transpired we doubt that there was ever a plan for the charter to return. The stranded Ghanaians have created a headache for the new government. If they stay the government would be forced to issue work permits for the able bodied men to sustain themselves, which we all agree would have established a dangerous precedent. To send them home however means that the taxpayers of barbados will have to shell-out their plane fares. If the story released on Modernghanna.com is correct it seems that the Barbados government selected the second option.

Wasn’t it last year when some African adventures perished when they attempted to sail across the Atlantic in search of the promise land and ended-up in Barbados? Africans headed our way in search of a better life maybe just beginning.

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45 responses to “Ghanaians Stranded In Barbados Get To Finally Pack Bags”

  1. PiedPiper Avatar
    PiedPiper

    Where did the figure of $12 Million dollars come from? Even if that is in BDS dollars, there is no way that it costs that amount to charter an aircraft to return 50 people back to Ghana.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    PiedPiper we wondered the same but as you can see that is the figure quoted in the link to the Ghana website. The figure must be wrong or must be accounting for some expenses which the public is unaware.

  3. notbajan Avatar
    notbajan

    Fifty? at 12 Million?
    I thought there were more than fifty

  4. PiedPiper Avatar
    PiedPiper

    I suspect that there is still a very large piece of the puzzle missing from this story that may not come to light for some time.
    If in fact it was the intention of some of the Ghanians to make their way to either the U.S. or Canada, how was that end to be achieved?
    It is clear from news reports that a good number of them took jobs as they did not have sufficient funds for food and shelter.
    I believe that there is a “connection” out there somewhere….someone who was to facilitate their travel to North America and this was included in the large sums of money paid in Ghana. Follow the money and you will find the individual(s) who not only perpetrated fraud on the poor Ghanians but also will now, possibley, cost The Barbados Government a lot of money to repatriate them.

  5. PiedPiper Avatar
    PiedPiper

    That was my mistake not BU’s

  6. me Avatar
    me

    12 million ????

  7. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    Government has committed over 12 million dollars to charter a plane to fly home about 50 stranded Ghanaians who travelled to Barbados last month in search of greener pastures.
    …………………………………………………………………….
    This information was a report from the Ghana News and the word “Government” is the Ghanian Government.

  8. Avatar
    Anonymous

    BU

    How did that post from BFPE get through?

  9. Tony Hall Avatar
    Tony Hall

    I believe it was a scam from the inception. The plan was to get these persons to North America and if by accident they got stranded in Barbados assimilate within the population because it was believed that Barbados has lapse immigration policies. Whoever set this up obviously did some research but the scam just didn’t work.

  10. reality check Avatar
    reality check

    lets see approximately $1,300,000 US for 50 people or $26,000 US per person—sounds like another scam to me. You could probably negotiate a deal with British or Virgin for one tenth that. This would mean however that no insider, politician or civil servant was taking “juice” or “fees” along the way ( Barbados or Ghana ).

  11. peltdownman Avatar
    peltdownman

    If it really is the government of Ghana paying this exorbitant amount, then the figure is entirely explainable.

  12. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Google Ghana/Barbados and up comes the story
    about the stranded people in a story by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
    Click on the article and it shows the the GBC domain account has been suspended.

    I also notice that the Tour Operator is Ghana is still advertising the flights to Barbados!

  13. Donald Duck, Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck, Esq

    The article did not say what currency the 12 million was in

  14. reality check Avatar
    reality check

    if Ghanians are paying assume Ghanaians cedis or dollars. which is approx $1,300,000 US.

    The reverse of $12 million US in impossible to believe unless it was under the former Owen Arthur and Noel Lynch administration.

    The question still remains. Who allowed them in the country with a wink and a nod?

  15. Digi Avatar
    Digi

    BU this is off topic but its time for an article on Barbados cricket. This sport which once made us proud to be Bajans has descended to the point where we are the laughing stock of the Caribbean. What has gone so drastically wrong in a sport where we produced countless legendary world beaters. The talentless, spineless cricketers whose lack of simple common sense and pride while wearing the national cap are to blame. But even moreso the boasty, show off egomaniacs who comprise the Barbados Cricket Association bear the brunt of the blame. The BCA is a national embarassment.

    How can your national team perform when the administration is at permanent war with itself? The BCA knows more about litigation, affidavits and court cases than it does about cricket. Its legal fees on internal squabbles run into millions.They should remame the BCA the BCN or Barbados Cosa Nostra. This inept body spends more time, money and meetings on vendettas, double crossing and the politics of hate and spite than any New York Mafia family. What can be done to make our cricket rise again? Thats want I would like to hear from bloggers.

    In the meanwhile the history and tradition of our cricket greatness is being dragged through the mud by a pack of wannabee middle class, publicity seeking aministrators whose interest is strictly in themselves and the art one upmanship. The rudderless young cricketers who represent us have nowhere to turn for direction, guts or leadership as they continue to roll out the most depressing, cowardly displays witnessed by our once proud cricket nation.

  16. notesfromthemargin Avatar
    notesfromthemargin

    nice article!

    🙂

    Marginal

  17. makiala Avatar
    makiala

    Do a google search on Treaty of Rome and see how Europeans are destined to unite their race at an international level, and this is at all levells by creating freemovement of goods, people and capital. Are we the African race never going to remain devided and treating our brothers and sisters like strangers while Europeans unite at all levels right in front our faces, are we a cursed nation, with blindness I mean.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    What is going on with this Ghanaian business. Seems to be going on too long.

  19. Yardbroom Avatar
    Yardbroom

    The ” Real Story” Full Circle not Triangular.

    Who would have thought that some three hundred years later, Africans would be – at great sacrifice to themselves – spending money to reach shores -Barbados – to which their brothers were sent in chains.

    It might be true that, some of the Ghanaians and Nigerians wanted to go on to other places initially, but if media reports are to be believed “some” did say they wanted to stay in Barbados and work.

    It shows if nothing else, how difficult it is to break the human spirit. Over the years our Barbadian brothers and sisters, through no little sacrifice have carved a little niche for themselves on the rock of Barbados, with no natural resources. They have been successful in their endeavours, and that success can be measured by the fact that others of their own choosing seek to come here.

    I will not enter into the debate about the rights and wrongs of the Africans being here, I will leave that to the immigration authorties.

    In passing I will only refer to our Prime Minister Mr. David Thompson visiting them where they are now accommodated. That was a statesman like and proper thing to do. He could have reassured them that their basic needs will be taken care of, and they will know at the highest level, they were not being ignored.

    Mr. Thompson at International Conferences can now hold his head high as the representative of the Barbadian people, when he meets foreign leaders.

    The “real story” here is how could one envisage three hundred years ago that Africans could voluntarily, even pay money to be where their brothers were sent in chains.

    That is the real story, to miss it and not acknowledge the “indomitable spirit” of human beings and the sacrifices often made by others in order for us their sons and daughters to breath the intoxicating air of freedom is not to appreciate the significance of the ” voluntary flight” from Africa to Barbados.

  20. David Avatar
    David

    Yardbroom a very heartfelt comment no doubt, but we suspect you maybe intellectualizing about this Ghanaian issue.

    Could it be that these Africans were parted with their money because of promises made to land them jobs somewhere, anywhere which happened to be in the Caribbean?

  21. Yardbroom Avatar
    Yardbroom

    David
    I have no reason to doubt your suggestion and perhaps you are right, I believed that to be understood, but then the plane did land at GAI, even so the focus was the Caribbean, the history is the same, but my thoughts were of men like Captain Paul Cuffee and what he would have made of it all.

  22. Kamau Avatar
    Kamau

    I find much of the discussion around the Ghanians most incredible. I wonder how many of the comentators spoke to one of these brothers r sisters or to anyone who has been in contact with any of them?

    Maybe it would be a good idea to do so, I am glad that I have. Some of these brothers have been staying at my home, and all I can say is that I give thanks that I have been able to meet them, my life and the lives of my family members are much richer because of their stay. And I’m not talking dollars and cents.

  23. David Avatar
    David

    Kamau we are glad to hear of your enriching experience via your encounters with the Africans. The question still remains though. Were the Africans duped? Were they promised jobs? Was it their intention to remain in the Caribbean?

  24. Kamau Avatar
    Kamau

    Speaking and interacting with those whom I have met, I would say, for the vast majority, no. I would say that as we in the Caribbean have been doing for years, maybe a few may have been seeking greener pastures, but for those whom I’ve met, Barbados would hardly offer greener pastures for them, they are quite well off. Much better than I am.

  25. Kamau Avatar
    Kamau

    Iwould also suggest that people check out the local tour company and Ghana Internatal Airlines.

  26. David Avatar
    David

    Kamau why don’t you get specific? If you have information let the public know.

  27. Kamau Avatar
    Kamau

    Check out the article below, I’m not the original source. Also visit the site below.

    http://www.ustream.tv/BANGO

    Ladies and gentlemen, there is an excellent argument to be made that when Ghana International Airlines flew 149 charter passengers from Africa to Barbados on February 1, 2008 – both the airline and the charter company already knew the airline probably wouldn’t be returning to Barbados on February 15th.
    It turns out that an aircraft exchange was to take place – and did take place – during the time when Ghana International Airlines was to pick up passengers in Barbados. (Read on for the details.)
    And here we are over five weeks later and still no aircraft in sight.
    Let’s review all the pieces of this puzzle, and then you can make up your mind as to whether or not you agree that it should have been no surprise when Ghana International Airlines didn’t show up to take those 149 passengers back to Africa.
    There are five areas we can think of that should have warned authorities in advance that this specific African flight was going to be a disaster…
    1/ Poor financial condition of Ghana International Airways (GIA)
    2/ GIA’s scheduling & aircraft limitations and their poor service record.
    3/ Incomplete paperwork filed by GIA prior to the flight.
    4/ Lack of visa requirements for visitors from Nigeria and Ghana.
    5/ Demographics and luggage load of the passengers.
    I’ll cover points one and two now, and then get to the others later after our staff meeting this afternoon.
    1/ Poor financial condition of Ghana International Airways (GIA)
    2/ GIA’s scheduling & aircraft limitations and their poor service record.
    Ghana International Airlines has been having a rough time of it lately. They are down to a single leased aircraft, and, as any pilot can tell you – no airline can operate with just one aircraft. There is no time for maintenance and when something breaks (a normal happening with any machine) it totally destroys the flight schedule. Sure, you can always lease a back-up aircraft for a week or so… if you can find one available exactly when and where you need it.
    Until the replacement aircraft shows up though, passengers who are stranded in some far-off place like (for instance) Barbados, have to, well, remain stranded. Such is the business of running a one-airplane “International Airlines”.
    But it is not like the folks at GIA don’t have experience running a dying airline. The company was largely reincarnated from the ashes of their failed predecessor: “Ghana Airways”. During the last gasps of Ghana Airways in late 2004 and early 2005, all but one of their aircraft were seized by creditors.
    So how did Ghana Airways operate with only one aircraft back in 2005? Apparently not very well. As Dr. Richard Anane put it on GhanaWeb…
    “With only one DC10 in service, delays and cancellation of flights took its toll on the entire Airline and it became common sight to find passengers demonstrating at the airport or vandalising Ghana Airways property.”
    Ghana – Last Stop For Airliners Before The Seats Are Ripped Out To Haul Freight
    According to all the research I’ve managed Ghana International Airlines – GIA currently operates a single 14-year-old Boeing 757-256 (Boeing serial number 26245) registration TF-FIS – on lease from Icelandair since February 20, 2008.
    The aircraft that brought the Africans to Barbados on February, 1, 2008 was an eight-year-old Boeing 757-256 registered TF-FIY (Boeing serial number 29312). This was leased from Icelandair in August of 2007 and formally handed back about February 18, 2008 in exchange for the much older TF-FIS that is the current aircraft.
    We are told that Ghana International Airlines had no aircraft available for almost a week in February – when they were supposed to return to Barbados.
    In the last few years the airline has gone through a few aircraft – to the point where they don’t even bother to paint them in the airline colours anymore. All those pretty photos in the promotional materials and on the Ghana International Airlines website are of two aircraft that are long gone.
    Now, GIA simply tapes over the “IcelandAir” name on the tail and throws the word “Ghana” on the fuselage. It isn’t pretty, but it is all an airline on its last legs can manage. The top photo (link) is how TF-FIY appeared in September, 2007 and the bottom photo is how the same aircraft appeared on February 1, 2008 when it was at Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Classy tape job on the tail, don’t you think?)
    Up until November 1, 2007, GIA leased a seven-year-old Boeing 757-256 from Iceland Air (Registration TF-FIA). Prior to TF-FIA, Ghana International Airlines was flying a 20-year-old clapped out 757-225F (Boeing serial number 22210) with US registration N930RD. (That’s it in the GIA colours at the top of the article) The aircraft went back to Ryan International in April, 2006 and has since been converted to a freighter and sold to Varig Logistica out of Brazil. According to an industry source, at least one of GIA’s leased aircraft was temporarily seized in early 2007 for payment problems.
    GIA also used to lease an Icelandair Boeing 767-366ER – Boeing serial number 24541 (TF-LLA), but this was given up around September, 2007 when, to put it kindly… “Passenger growth did not meet expectations.”

  28. Technician Avatar
    Technician

    #

    Kamau // April 15, 2008 at 5:26 am

    Speaking and interacting with those whom I have met, I would say, for the vast majority, no. I would say that as we in the Caribbean have been doing for years, maybe a few may have been seeking greener pastures, but for those whom I’ve met, Barbados would hardly offer greener pastures for them, they are quite well off. Much better than I am.
    —————————————————————————-
    If these people are so ‘well off’ as you put it ..then why dont any of them have at least one credit card to help their situation. How come they are so well off…yet still can’t meet the requirements for a visa to pass through London? How come their families cant wire some money to them to help with their plight?
    Dont insult our intelligence with this nonsense..this is a scam from day one.

  29. Kamau Avatar
    Kamau

    All i can say to you Techician, is let your intelligence be your guide.

  30. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Bolgatanga, April 18, GNA – Fifteen Ghanaians, with ages ranging between from 17 and 34 years, were on Thursday deported by the government of Spain to Ghana for illegally entering the country. They are Mr. Alex Antwi, 28, Mr. Kwasi Appiah, 23, Mr. Kwame Alex, 25, Mr. Thomas Boateng, 26, Mr. Kojo Antwi, 25, Mr. Kwasi Obeng, 25 and Mr. Kojo Yakubu 29, all from Teacheman.

    The rest are Nana Kofi 34, from Kwahu, Mr. Kobi Bright, 30, Cape Coast, Mr. Jojo Kwame, Cape Coast, Mr. Kofi Otu 30, Mankessim, Mr. Kofi Akwa 34, Kumasi, Mr. William Ayaba, 23, Sunyani, Mr. Fifi Kojo, 20, Berekum and Mr. Agyei Kwabina, 17 Berekum. Narrating their ordeal their leader, Mr. Alex Antwi, said they travelled through Mali, Algeria to Morocco and to Spain but were deported to Algeria where they served one month in prison before they were released.

    He said there are about another 100 Ghanaians deported from Spain and are in Algerian prisons. Mr Antwi said after their release by the Algerian authorities they travelled to Mali where they met a Catholic priest who assisted them to enter Ouagadougou.

    In Ouagadougou they met a Ghanaian articulator truck driver who transported them through the Paga border to the Upper East Region where they decided to seek assistance from the Regional Coordinating Council to enable them to get to their hometowns.

    Addressing them Mrs. Agnes Chegabatia, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister who received them in the presence of Mr. Daniel Taabazuing, Commander of Immigration in charge of Upper East Region, told them to take lessons from what they had gone through.

    Most of the deportees GNA spoke to vowed never to travel to look for greener pasture outside Ghana and that the hardships they went through had taught them lessons.

    Mr. Antwi said he used more than 25,000 Ghana Cedis from his poultry farm for the journey and that he would go back to his poultry business. Mr. Taabazuing said the deportees, who are in the custody of the Immigration Service, would be screened to find out whether they are Ghanaians after which they would be counselled and re-integrated into their communities.

    Source:

  31. Bajan Avatar
    Bajan

    It is amazing that T&T and now Spain have decided to deport these people but in Barbados we have these back to Africa people who have turned an immigration mtter in a political football.

  32. Theswanee Avatar
    Theswanee

    I read with amazement that the first choice the Goverment had was to issue work permits for the
    stranded Africans, or the second option would have been to send them home, which is the only
    option the Goverment have. The Laws of Barbados is not up for Compromise,that will be a very serious precedent for Goverment to issue work permits for these African Scammers, a plane load of men as Tourist, where are their Wives, Children, in Other words Families……Scam from the start,
    the Africans are seeking Greener Pastures at the expense of Barbadian Hospitality, taken in by the few, Brother, what utter bullshit, send them PACKING, those Back to Africa Brothers make room for them also.

    David Comalong Commissong, Trevor Misguided Prescod, all will be at home, I have no intentions of Back to Africa, The Africans want out, Bajans dont want to go.The Africans came under the Guise as Visitors knowing full well it was a one way flight, Scam Human Trafficking, it is what these People are
    use to, we have never had to deal with it Trafficking, these people knew that also,that it would be the first time the Barbados Goverment would be faced with such a situation,then the Goverment takes action and Comealong jumps up and Pressie. Make me Prime Minister for a day and I will deal wid it,
    DODDS for all no freedom of movement when you have over stayed your time.

    In the real world if an airline goes out of Buisness you make arrangements to return to your respective Countries, what work Permits are you talking about, Barbadians are struggling to make ends meet, the Goverment of the People must provide social Services for our People and not be faced with extending our Budget to help out Scammers, as every Barbadian will be paying in our Tax Dollars, dont talk to me bout Black
    and White, Talk to me about People, dont tell me if there were White, that is not an argument,
    because if their were European,Canadian or American, they could call on the respective Goverments for assistance, whether you were Black ,White or Yellow.

    Those Goverments would have stepped in already, and the Taxpayers of Barbados wont be stucked with the buisness of financing them ,food ,shelter and a flight,I beleive Home Drum beats first, I have not Heard David Comealong or Trevor Prescod saying they will take in an under Privelege Bajan, which makes me wonder. Further more I hear
    Civil Disobedience being preached to the over stayed and now unwelcome visitors, I boldy say
    unwelcome, problems are unwelcomed, the rule of Law must be maintained in our Civil Society,
    to protect our Democracy, we will not settle for Less. We must protect our shores from Human
    Trafficking, I stand firmly among other Barbadians that want to see the Africans depart our shores, and do think the Goverment have done a Good job, but I still do think these Scammers should be thrown in Lockup. I will attach a story that came from the Ghanaian Press.

    Subject: Could this be the reason for the Stranded africans

    Bolgatanga, April 18, GNA – Fifteen Ghanaians, with ages ranging between from 17 and 34 years, were on Thursday deported by the government of Spain to Ghana for illegally entering the country. They are Mr. Alex Antwi, 28, Mr. Kwasi Appiah, 23, Mr. Kwame Alex, 25, Mr. Thomas Boateng, 26, Mr. Kojo Antwi, 25, Mr. Kwasi Obeng, 25 and Mr. Kojo Yakubu 29, all from Teacheman.

    The rest are Nana Kofi 34, from Kwahu, Mr. Kobi Bright, 30, Cape Coast, Mr. Jojo Kwame, Cape Coast, Mr. Kofi Otu 30, Mankessim, Mr. Kofi Akwa 34, Kumasi, Mr. William Ayaba, 23, Sunyani, Mr. Fifi Kojo, 20, Berekum and Mr. Agyei Kwabina, 17 Berekum. Narrating their ordeal their leader, Mr. Alex Antwi, said they travelled through Mali, Algeria to Morocco and to Spain but were deported to Algeria where they served one month in prison before they were released.

    He said there are about another 100 Ghanaians deported from Spain and are in Algerian prisons. Mr Antwi said after their release by the Algerian authorities they travelled to Mali where they met a Catholic priest who assisted them to enter Ouagadougou.

    In Ouagadougou they met a Ghanaian articulator truck driver who transported them through the Paga border to the Upper East Region where they decided to seek assistance from the Regional Coordinating Council to enable them to get to their hometowns.

    Addressing them Mrs. Agnes Chegabatia, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister who received them in the presence of Mr. Daniel Taabazuing, Commander of Immigration in charge of Upper East Region, told them to take lessons from what they had gone through.

    Most of the deportees GNA spoke to vowed never to travel to look for greener pasture outside Ghana and that the hardships they went through had taught them lessons.

    Mr. Antwi said he used more than 25,000 Ghana Cedis from his poultry farm for the journey and that he would go back to his poultry business. Mr. Taabazuing said the deportees, who are in the custody of the Immigration Service, would be screened to find out whether they are Ghanaians after which they would be counselled and re-integrated into their communities.

    Source:

  33. David Avatar
    David

    Our sister blog has printed an update to this blog. Looks like it will cost alot less to charter a plane to take the Ghanaians home.

    We suspect that the authorties will have to find all of them first!

    http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/barbados-prime-ministers-latest-jet-charter-no-transparency-potential-conflict-of-interest/

  34. Urgent Report On Africans Incarcerated In Barbados – The BN Village

    […] Originally Posted by Vubundada_Kandaba Hmmmmm!!! where do I begin here. For starters I stressed the point that " I might be wrong here" meaning I do not know all the facts and stands to be corrected meaning I am ready for anyone to come and help us better understand this scenario. I am not aware of spreading any myths true or false. But I also stressed that Ghana and Nigeria needed to take responsibility for this episode based on what I read here on BNV. I do not know anything about leasing planes or running an Airline or charter services hence I stressed in my first post ever on this subject and I repeat what I said earlier " I might be wrong here" but thanks for helping us understand this better. I also mentioned and I quote "I am speculating here" meaning that I could be entirely wrong and mistaken in my assessment. As for the other details of the Passengers disappearing to other Islands and all of them being Men, I must say I am not aware of this and this is the first time I am learning of this. And it does not sound very good from what you are saying. Lets hope for the best resolution to this and I hope Intergovermental relationships are not soaring which is the last thing we need with all three Countries involved. This should never have happened to begin with and heads must seriously roll for the Mistakes be it knowingly or unknowingly for the plane not showing up. Vubundada_Kandaba I like to think the best about most people, but making excuses do not sit well with me…. Poor planning indeed. I would like you to tell me Vubundada where you are getting your information, as it seems there is quite a lot of errors in your version of events. Here are a few links that might clear things up for you. 153 GIA passengers stranded in Barbados – ModernGhana.com Ghanaians still stranded in Barbados – ModernGhana.com 12 Million Dollars To Be Spent On Stranded Ghanaians In Barbados – ModernGhana.com Ghanaians Stranded In Barbados Get To Finally Pack Bags Barbados Underground – bringing the news to … […]

  35. theswanee Avatar
    theswanee

    Accra – Ghana is a source, transit point and destination for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced domestic commercial labour, a United States official said in Accra on Friday.

    Rachel Yousey of the US. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons said a report on the human trafficking situation in Ghana showed that Ghanaian children were trafficked internally for forced labour in fishing villages and cocoa plantations and were sent to urban areas in the South to work under exploitative conditions as domestic servants, street vendors and porters.

    Ghanaian children are also trafficked to Ivory Coast, Togo and Nigeria, said Yousey, who is on a five-nation African tour that will also take her to Togo, Benin, South Africa and Mozambique.

    Recruiters typically target poor children, who are removed from their home communities with their parents’ consent, she said.

    New bill praised

    She said women and girls are trafficked to Western Europe, principally Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, where they are sexually exploited. Some young Ghanaian women end up in domestic servitude in the Middle East.

    Yousey said Nigerian females en route to Western Europe for sexual exploitation transit Ghana. Burkina Faso victims pass through Ghana on their way to Ivory Coast.

    Foreign victims of human trafficking include children brought to Ghana en route to Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and Nigeria for forced labour, involuntary domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.

    Yousey said the report indicated that prominent among those trafficked were children, and yet data on them was rather low.

    She praised Ghana for passing a bill on Thursday that seeks to prevent, suppress and punish persons or groups who engage in human trafficking. Yousey said the legislation would give Ghanaian law enforcement agencies backing to help them stem the significant human trafficking. The bill must be signed by the president to take effect. – Sapa-dpa

  36. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Ghana: Human trafficking hub
    30/07/2005 13:34 – (SA)

    Accra – Ghana is a source, transit point and destination for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced domestic commercial labour, a United States official said in Accra on Friday.
    Rachel Yousey of the US. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons said a report on the human trafficking situation in Ghana showed that Ghanaian children were trafficked internally for forced labour in fishing villages and cocoa plantations and were sent to urban areas in the South to work under exploitative conditions as domestic servants, street vendors and porters.
    Ghanaian children are also trafficked to Ivory Coast, Togo and Nigeria, said Yousey, who is on a five-nation African tour that will also take her to Togo, Benin, South Africa and Mozambique.
    Recruiters typically target poor children, who are removed from their home communities with their parents’ consent, she said.
    New bill praised
    She said women and girls are trafficked to Western Europe, principally Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, where they are sexually exploited. Some young Ghanaian women end up in domestic servitude in the Middle East.
    Yousey said Nigerian females en route to Western Europe for sexual exploitation transit Ghana. Burkina Faso victims pass through Ghana on their way to Ivory Coast.
    Foreign victims of human trafficking include children brought to Ghana en route to Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and Nigeria for forced labour, involuntary domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.
    Yousey said the report indicated that prominent among those trafficked were children, and yet data on them was rather low.

    She praised Ghana for passing a bill on Thursday that seeks to prevent, suppress and punish persons or groups who engage in human trafficking. Yousey said the legislation would give Ghanaian law enforcement agencies backing to help them stem the significant human trafficking. The bill must be signed by the president to take effect. – Sapa-dpa

  37. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Accra – Ghana’s immigration service on Wednesday announced it had broken up a Chinese human trafficking ring which promised jobs in Europe and the United States to Chinese migrants smuggled in and then out of the West African country.
    The bust highlights the growing problem of illegal immigration to Ghana by migrants from around the globe who believe that access to Europe or North America will be easier from Africa than from their home countries in the Middle East or Asia.
    Seven Chinese nationals who paid as much as $5 000 each to the ring allegedly run by Lin Xianglan and her husband were to be deported on Sunday, Ghana Immigration Service director Elizabeth Adjei said.
    Xianglan, 45, was also taken into custody and is expected to face trial on charges to include fraud.
    “There was nothing legitimate to what she was doing,” Adjei said of the Chinese businesswoman, who was also the operator of a Ghana restaurant and casino.
    “She came in as a visitor and all of a sudden owned a restaurant, which was already operating.”
    According to the GIS investigation, Xianglan had registered the Al-Las Company in a bid to take advantage of the benefits offered to businesses operating in one of Ghana’s commercial Free Zones.
    The Free Zones are commercial havens that allot tax relief and liberal employment quotas to manufacturers who base their operations in Ghana.
    The concept has been promoted by President John Kufuor as part of his economic reform plan to rid Ghana of its external debt and grow its economy.
    Preliminary interviews with the suspect and the would-be migrants suggest that they were recruited in China and then, using false documents, were able to obtain visas from the Ghanaian embassy in Beijing.
    After a brief stay in Ghana they were to head to the United States, again using false documents.
    Adjei said “several hundred” Asian migrants have been caught by GIS and returned home – ironic, she noted, in a country that has in recent months had to repatriate dozens of its own nationals nabbed by European and Libyan immigration officials trying to make their way north.
    “We had Ghanaians in mind for our anti-trafficking operations; we did not plan for this new phenomenon,” she said.
    Regular flights from East African airports in Kenya and Ethiopia are packed with aspiring immigrants, and Ghana’s land borders with Togo and Ivory Coast are also conduits for migration.
    “People are using our country as a transit point, with their final destination being the United States or Europe,” Adjei added.

    “We have been very much aware for some time (of the trafficking problem) and have begun to raise scrutiny when Asians arrive at our port, or our airport. Some of them are even bearing tickets for Mexico City.” – AFP

  38. Avatar
    Anonymous

    As the nation prepares for Ghana 2008…Children in danger

    By Accra Mail

    Fri, 14 Dec 2007
    General News

    The Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service and some organizations have uncovered plots by some people to recruit children for prostitution during the African Cup of Nations tournament, Ghana 2008.

    The government has therefore been called upon to put measures in place to prevent the plotters who are mostly human traffickers from having a field day.

    Panelists at a two-day workshop on “Combating Child Trafficking in Ghana – the Role of the Media” noted that, human trafficking is the third most lucrative business in the world after drugs and trading of arms, with an estimated annual earning of $5-$7 billion.

    The workshop at Senchi near Akosombo in the Eastern Region was organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and sponsored by the British High Commission. It brought together journalists from Volta, Eastern, Central, Greater Accra and Western regions.

    The human traffickers often recruit minors who are turned into sexual workers. These children are exploited and paid pittance for their “hard work”.

    The children sometimes end up contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Prostitution is illegal in Ghana..

    The fear of the panelists emanated from the fact that, globally, perpetrators of human trafficking habitually take advantage of international sporting events like the Ghana 2008 tournament to recruit sex workers for their operations, which children are not left out.

    A child right activist Mr. Bright Appiah of Children’s Right International an NGO, said that he had information from Kumasi that some “underground agents” have been paid to recruit sex workers which some of the targets are children.

    He said as the security agencies beef up their watchdog role in host cities and surrounding towns of Ghana 2008 tournament, children could also be protected if government imposed a curfew on children during the tournament.

    The Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, Mr. Adu-Poku said international sporting events have become fertile ground for human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children.

    “The international sporting events have become a fertile ground for human trafficking, for sexual exploitation, the documented patterns of frequent trafficking of children for force prostitution during world cups and others as well as the increase of recruitment of children for force prostitution in South Africa for the upcoming world cup create a dire picture..We need to fight it to ensure zero tolerance for human trafficking,’ he said.

    He said human trafficking is linked to organized crime and called for concerted efforts to cut the demand and discourage the supply.

    According to a UN estimation, about 706,000 to four million women and children are trafficked every year. Out of the figure, 50% are children with some as young as under six years.

    Mr. Adu-Poku said with the money they are making out of the business, it would be very difficult for them to stop. To fight human trafficking effectively, he said there should be protection, prosecution, awareness creation and assistance to victims.

    Tatiana Kotlyarenko, Executive Director of Enslavement Prevention Alliance West Africa said, even though anti-human trafficking preventative measures have mitigated the practice, there is still the need for the media to play a critical role in spreading awareness of human trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation.

    “In South Africa, there are media reports of how street children as young as nine years old are being lured and prepared for prostitution for World Cup 2010,” she said and warned: “With no preventative measures in place and relatively easy border crossings for other ECOWAS members prior to and during the CAN 2008, it is highly probable that thousands of women and children will be trafficked into Ghana for the purposes of sexual exploitation, as well as recruited internally.”

    Child rights advocates met on Monday at the offices of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to strategize on how to abort the plans of the traffickers.

    Meanwhile there have been media reports of invasion of prostitutes from neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria to Accra and Takoradi respectively, a move the secret association of sex workers in both cities have expressed concern about.

    Latest Headlines

  39. David Avatar
    David

    This Ghanaian story is starting to take on embarrassing proportions. The only player which is to blame in this mess must be the government of Ghana. At some point a country must take responsibility for its citizens. We commend the government of Barbados after all this time on their action ow that this situation as graduated to a royal mess. At some Barbados will have to bite the bullet and send these people home. The PR disaster which is waiting to happen far out weighs the benefit of continuing dialogue.

    On a another note it seems that some ignorant Barbadians are flouting the law by continuing to hid the Africans from the authorities. This is a reprehensible act and must be considered unpatriotic. We will not print the information which has come to hand that a former high official in the former government was involved in the plan to bring the Africans to Barbados. We currently trying to verify this information but with our limited resources given the rising prices we have to watch our overseas telephone bill!

  40. bajan Avatar
    bajan

    David forward whatever info you have and I will do a search, a phone call, a website what ever info I can get some answers as I am annoyed at the way Comalong and Presfootinmouthdisease have been trying to make this Polictical,Human Right abuses. I was forced into action by the actions of those people, I have been surfing the web for info and similar stories to give Barbadians an idea as to what these people will do. I have copied several stories as to make my fellow Barbadians aware of the scams of these People, I also use a few names when I leave a comment.

    Bajan: we would start with calling the Ministry responsible for Home affairs or some similar ministry. We would start there to get a comment. Next we would call the principals of Ghana Airlines to ask some searching questions.
    David

  41. Ghanaian & Nigerian Barbados Scam Uncovered « Barbados Underground – bringing the news to the people

    […] and Ghanaians who have been able to command entry into Barbados under what should have been suspicious circumstances. What is obvious to bystanders is the strong scent of a scam at work. Unsubstantiated […]

  42. theswanee Avatar
    theswanee

    Ghana: A Time To Be Ashamed As A Ghanaian

    May 03, 2008 07:02 AM

    By Tsikata, P. Y.

    US$12 million dollars to fly home 50 Ghanaians trapped in Barbados?

    Are there not other functionally efficient ways of bringing them home at a lesser cost?

    Is not feasible at government-to-government level to negotiate a deal to have these people airlifted to a country in Europe for their onward passage to Ghana, if direct flight from Barbados to Ghana is the problem?

    I bet, at most, US$150 000 could lift these people to Ghana if those managing our

    resources know what they are about and appreciate the myriad of problems that confront us as a nation.

    Obviously, one will begin to ask what is so special about this group of stranded Ghanaians that the Government of Ghana could expend such a huge foreign reserve to bring this misguided group of individuals home, especially when there are very teething social, economic and political issues at home requiring government intervention to tackle.

    Let us juxtapose Ghana Government intervention in spending US$240 000 per person to bring 50 stranded Ghanaians home from Barbados with the case of Ms. Ama Sumani who could not afford to pay for her dialysis in a British hospital.

    Ms. Ama Sumani, 39, of blessed memories, whose visa had expired while in the UK as a student, was removed from a Cardiff hospital where she was receiving dialysis for a year after cancer damaged her kidneys.

    Despite her medical predicament she arrived in Ghana just like any other deportee who, out of his own volition, has embarked on a perilous journey with no destination in mind, and was arrested and sent home like a bandit.

    Considering her peculiar situation, Ghana High Commission in London could not intervene on her behalf to make sure that she was brought home in some form of dignity evading the humiliating stigma of deportation and under such despicable situation.

    Ama since returning to Ghana could not pay for the dialysis treatment she had been receiving at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. She had to rely on assistance from her Ghanaian relatives and friends abroad till she gave up the ghost on Friday, 28 March, 2008.

    Surprisingly, on Sunday, 30 March 2008, our government (Ghana government), with representation in London—Ghana High Commission, who could not facilitate a dignified passage for one of its own vulnerable citizens at the point of death, could raise US$240 000 per person to bring home 50 Ghanaians who, out of their own idiocies were stranded in the Caribbean. What a paradox?

    There have been many Ghanaians stranded in various countries in recent times, for example, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, China and many more who could not attract similar attention from the same government. They had to go through very dehumanizing ordeals to return to Ghana.

    This, indeed, makes one to wonder what is so special about this group of Ghanaians that the Ghanaian taxpayer must cough out US$12 million to bring them back home. Or is it the case that the philosophical orientation of the Ghana Government towards stranded Ghanaians abroad has shifted from ‘self-rescue’ to ‘welfare, protection and assistance? If ‘welfare, protection and assistance’ is now the case, does it imply that it covers all Ghanaians irrespective of the country they are trapped in? Does it imply that it covers the likes of the late Ms. Ama Sumani who was bundled into an aircraft like a toxic waste heading for the unguided high seas of Africa? Does it also imply that Amenorvi Klutse Bianaseme will also receive similar attention just as Baffour Gyimah?

    Listening to Dr. Brempong-Yeboah, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD on radio Ghana, I wish to correct his misrepresentation of some facts which were meant to misinform the listening public. He submitted that conditions in Barbados are harsher than Ghana. He should understand that Ghana is nowhere near the small Island country with a population of about 300 000 in terms of economic development. For his information, Barbados ranked 31 among 170 countries in the 2007 human development index as compared to Ghana’s 135th position. Maybe somebody should draw his attention to what is chasing his countrymen out of the ‘best performing economy’ on the continent into a harsher economies like Barbados and others.

    It is sickening sometimes to read or listen to some of these news items about a country where about half the population lives under US$1 per day.

    What are the opposition parties doing in Ghana? Are they all in bed with the government?

    Is it not time they start holding individuals who negotiate or broker deals of this sort on behalf of the Ghana Government accountable rather than attacking an irresponsible and seemingly amorphous government, which has continuously demonstrated its lack of responsibility for their collective actions?

    In another development, it is interesting to know that Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s former High Commissioner to the UK, is interested in the Subin seat. I urge the ‘Concerned Youth in Subin’ to do all in their power to block Mr. Isaac Osei not only because he has not been resident of the area or hailed from the constituency but because he simply does not deserve to be part of the august house.

    Mr. Isaac Osei as a high commissioner was very discriminatory and failed to attend to all Ghanaians irrespective of their social, political, economic and most of all their ethnic backgrounds. His attitude as a High Commissioner has, therefore, written him off someone who could help build a united Ghana when he is offered such an opportunity to cross the threshold into the august legislative house. His paymaster can continue to appoint him to enviable positions but for an ‘electable’ position like a parliamentarian, he must be blocked at all cost.

  43. Yeboah Avatar
    Yeboah

    Hi Great Bajans. I have just heard the news about the arrest of 4 more illegal Ghanaians in Barbardos. Surprisingly Augustine Addae is still not one of them. How and where is He hiding that the Bajan Immigration officials can not find and possibly depot Him to Ghana to face His crime of duping innocent people of huge sums of money. I have been told by those who arrived in Ghana not quite long that a Bajan Nurse is hiding Augustine Addae with the intention of marrying Him to regularise His documents and so that he will be able to stay in Barbados permanently. If your own Bajan colleaques are frustrating your efforts of rigging your dear country of criminals like Augustine Addae then I am sorry to say that Bajans you have a lot to do. This guy has a wife and child in Ghana here. He calls them every week with the news that He will succed very soon and leave the nurse and possibly travel to the United States. Wake up Bajans. Call Him on 0012462684342. According to him when they arrested the 4 Ghanaians recently, He and another Ghanaian who are beleived to be the only illegal Ghanaians left, among that batch that went there, ran to a different area and they have just returned, but they will run away and hide again until the matter dies out. So please do not rest on your oars. They are fooling you.

  44. David Avatar
    David

    It seems that Barbados will now be stuck with these 7 Africans who will have to maintain either in prison or deport. Two are now at Dodds, all because we like to be NICE.

  45. Yeboah Avatar
    Yeboah

    I have been told Augustine Addae has been arrested in Barbados and He has been put behin bars. How far is this allegation true.

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