General News of Friday, 23 June 2017

Source: starrfmonline.com

Government to rescue illegal Ghanaians in Saudi Arabia

Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway

The Government of Ghana has begun the process to bring home all illegal Ghanaian immigrants in Saudi Arabia.

The move comes after an order by the Saudi government that all illegal immigrants leave the country by the end of June.

Government through the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations earlier this month suspended the recruitment of domestic workers to the Gulf States. This was to curtail the many cases of abuse faced by Ghanaians who had been recruited into countries like Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi government issued the directive in a bid to reduce the number of illegal migrants in the country.

Speaking exclusively to Starr News, Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said plans are in motion to have Ghanaians brought back.

“There are so many other nationals from other countries but our interest is Ghanaians so they have been asked [to leave]…and I believe after the deadline the kind of treatment that would be given to you if you are caught and it happens that you are illegal immigrant, it would be most unfortunate.

“So our embassy is engaging them, even it has to do with travel certificate we are slashing down the travel certificate to almost nothing in terms with the fees so they can come for it otherwise they [Saudi Arabia] are going to be very ruthless,” the Anyaa-Sowutuom Member of Parliament told Starr FM’s Ibrahim Alhassan.