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Latest Afrobarometer survey reveals that a large segment of the Ghanaian population would want to migrate to North America if they had the opportunity.

The survey also revealed that the age group with the most likelihood of migrating out of the country were between 18-35 years followed by those within the age bracket of 36-55 years.

North America was closely followed by Europe in the ranking of likely destination for the youth with desire to migrate out of the country.

The situation is not too different from the data collected from 8 other African countries; Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Mali, Zambia, and Zimbabwe which indicate that majority of people considering emigration are youth.

Search for jobs and quest to move away from economic hardship and poverty top the list of possible reasons including travel and tourism, education and business prospects among others for which people were willing to emigrate.

4% OF Ghanaian emigrants were willing to move to other parts of the continent while 10% of African emigrants averaged out of the 9 countries were willing to move to other parts of the continent.

The survey is an extract from Afrobarometer’s current round of nationally representative surveys to be completed by mid-2018 which explores migration intentions and drivers in 35 African countries

This comes at a time when US Government has hinted at deporting close to 7000 Ghanaians illegally living in the US.

Ghana is also at risk of being sanctioned by the US with visa restrictions in accordance with its laws as a responsibility owed the American people.

There have also been several media reports of dehumanising acts perpetrated by some militia and migrants on fellow emigrants transiting Libya.