About 2,712 Ghanaian Students Missing in Canada – Reports Reveal

A recent report from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revealed that 2,712 Ghanaian students who arrived in Canada between March and April 2024 have not enrolled in their designated educational institutions. This issue is part of a broader concern, as nearly 50,000 international students from various countries have gone unaccounted for within the same period. The largest group among them comes from India, with 19,582 missing students, followed by China (4,279), Nigeria (3,902), and Ghana. In total, about 6.9% of the 717,539 international students under Canadian monitoring were not properly tracked.

Authorities suspect that visa fraud and loopholes in Canada’s immigration system may have contributed to this issue. Some of these students may have been deceived by fraudulent educational institutions, while others may have intentionally misused student visas to enter Canada with the primary goal of working rather than studying. In response, the Canadian government has introduced stricter immigration policies, including a cap on study permits and revised post-graduation work eligibility, to prevent further abuse of the system.

The situation has sparked investigations in various countries, including India, where authorities suspect a link between certain Canadian colleges and illegal migration networks. Some missing students are believed to have crossed into the United States instead of attending school. This development highlights the importance of due diligence for prospective international students. Before traveling abroad, students must verify the authenticity of their chosen institutions and fully understand the requirements of their study permits to avoid legal and immigration complications.