In partnership with the International Organisation for Migration of the UN (IOM), GIZ Ghana marked the International Migrants’ Day 2022 with a symposium and an exhibition in Accra today.
Under the theme: ‘It takes a community’, the celebration sought to highlight the importance of community cohesion and team work to maximising the benefit of migration as well as finding sustainable solutions to the challenges associated with it.
Since 2017, GIZ Ghana, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has provided a total of 70,000 support measures for migrants and local population alike, mainly focusing on enhancing their economic participation in Ghana. As part of this, over 5,000 persons have been placed in employment.
The Government of Ghana also received support to shape a development-oriented migration policy based on the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, with a focus on the diaspora engagement and regular labour migration. Support to the government also included strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and its Labour Department in the areas of labour migration, reintegration and employment promotion.
Within the last four years, GIZ has partnered the IOM to jointly implement individual, collective and community-based reintegration measures, including employment promotion projects and psychosocial counselling in 16 migration hotspot communities.
“For returned migrants, a welcoming community is especially important. GIZ Ghana is part of the community, and supports the socio-economic reintegration of returned migrants in Ghana,” said Regina Bauerochse Barbosa, Country Director of GIZ Ghana. “Through projects like the Ghanaian-German Centre, we also help the Ghanaian government and its people to maximise the numerous development effects of migration while mitigating the risks associated with it.”
As part of the celebration, an exhibition fair dubbed: ‘Migration Solution 360 Fair’ presented a platform for 80 returned migrants and local populace, who are beneficiaries of GIZ, to exhibit and market their products and services. The fair also afforded the various implementing partners the opportunity to apprise the public of their services and present some of their beneficiaries.
On 4th December, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18th December International Migrants’ Day. The day is celebrated annually to reflect on the role of millions of people who cross international borders in search of a better life, their positive contributions and the challenges they face in realising their full potential and capabilities.
