63,375 Ghanaians Apply for Canada Visas in First Four Months of 2024, Exceeding Total Applications in 2023

In a startling revelation, the number of Ghanaians seeking to migrate overseas has reached unprecedented heights, underscoring a growing trend of citizens looking for better opportunities abroad. According to Derek Nii Laryea, a renowned digital entrepreneur, a staggering 63,375 Ghanaians applied for a Canada visa from January to April 2024 alone. This figure has already surpassed the total number of applicants for the entire year of 2023, which stood at 62,151.

Laryea highlighted the dramatic increase in a tweet that drew significant attention: “Canada visa applications in Ghana. 2021: 9,109, 2023: 62,151. Of these, 33,756 were approved, reflecting a substantial rise in interest and acceptance rates. 2024 Jan to April: 63,375.” He further noted that the approval numbers for January and February were relatively strong, with 6,241 and 5,826 approvals respectively. However, March and April saw a sharp decline in approvals, dropping to 3,749 in March and further to 3,001 in April. “It seems IRCC is tightening the criteria,” Laryea observed.

The phenomenon of mass migration is not limited to Canada. An earlier report by GhanaWeb highlighted that 6,468 Ghanaians were granted visas to study graduate programs in the United States during the 2022-2023 academic year. This marked an over 31 percent increase from the previous year, which saw 4,140 Ghanaians enrolling in American universities for graduate studies.

Several factors contribute to this exodus. Ghana’s struggling economy, substandard living conditions, and high unemployment rates are driving many, particularly the youth, to seek better opportunities abroad. The significant increase in visa applications and approvals reflects a growing desperation among Ghanaians to find greener pastures overseas.

As the trend continues, it raises important questions about the future of Ghana’s workforce and the long-term impacts on the country’s development. The government faces mounting pressure to address the underlying issues driving this mass migration and to create a more conducive environment for its citizens to thrive within their homeland.