More Ghanaians are leaving the country for greener pastures abroad

The number of Ghanaians who travelled abroad in 2016 hit 293,754.

This was an increase of 25,606 over the 2015 figure of 268,149, statistics from the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has revealed.

The number of Ghanaians who travelled abroad in 2014 was 187,252, and this was far less than the numbers for 2015 and 2016.

The data also revealed that the years 2012 and 2013 recorded the highest number of Ghanaians who travelled abroad, which were 301,317 and 310,385 respectively.

The number of foreigners who travelled to Ghana in 2016 was 932,579 compared to the 896,524 figure in 2015.

Departure figures

Ghanaians and foreigners who departed Ghana to various destinations around the world increased from 911,553 in 2015 to 969,634 in 2016.

However, the numbers do not include borders residents because they are not captured, the Finder reports.

Breakdown of nationalities of arrival of foreigners

A total of 290,917 constitute nationals from other countries.

The nationalities of arrivals in order of the highest number has Nigeria in the lead with 79,100, Americans – 69,691, British – 44,251, Ivorians – 25,655, Indians – 23,027, Chinese – 19,380, Burkinabe – 18,031 and South Africans – 16,717.

The rest are Germans – 15,800, Liberians – 14,680, Dutch – 11,767, French – 11,365, Canadians – 10,980, Togolese – 9,426, Lebanese – 7,440 and Australians – 4,828.

Breakdown of nationalities of departure of foreigners

Nigerians were the highest leaving the country – 85,275, followed by the Americans – 71,074, British – 46,583, Indians – 23,193, Ivorians – 22,967 and Chinese – 18,538.

The rest are Germans – 16,728, Burkinabes – 16,228, South Africans 16,812, Liberians – 15,450, Dutch – 13,002, French – 12,155, Canadians – 11,211, Togolese – 9,757, Lebanese – 7,562 and Australians 4,888.

Travellers numbering 284,457 of other nationalities also departed Ghana for other countries.

The data revealed that out of the 932,579 people who travelled to Ghana, Ghanaians constitute 317,909, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) citizens were 207,654 while other nationals totalled 407,016.

Out of the 932,579 arrivals, 837,189 came by air transport, 94,585 travelled by road while 805 travelled by sea.

For the 969,634 people that travelled out of Ghana in 2016, a total of 874,531 went by air transport, followed by 93,768 who travelled by land and 1,335 left by sea transport.

The Kotoka International Airport topped both arrival and departure figures. It recorded 837,189 for arrivals and 874,531 for travellers who left.

The Elubo border recorded the second highest arrivals, departures figures of 46,112 and 39,914 travellers respectively in 2016.

The Aflao border was the third. It recorded 20,259 arrivals as against 27,625 departures.

The Paga border on the other hand recorded 21,702 arrivals and 18,810 departures.

The data also revealed that arrivals through other approved points were 7,317 while departures were 8,754 travellers in 2016.