Government in collaboration with the United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) and European Union (EU), has launched a migration partnership project.
Dubbed ‘Building migration partnerships in Ghana’, the project aims to improve the capacity of key stakeholders in the migration sector – including the government of Ghana – for effective implementation of the country’s national migration policy toward safe, orderly and regular migration. It also seeks to strengthen and leverage UN expertise to support good governance in the country.
Speaking at the project’s launch in Accra, Chief Director-Ministry of Interior, Adelaide Anno-Kumi, said it forms part of the European Union’s renewed commitment to building longstanding cooperation through the UN Network on Migration. She is upbeat that it will contribute toward accelerating work by the United Nations, governments, stakeholders, migrants and communities for sustainable development.
“It, therefore, comes as no surprise that migration has assumed an important role on the global agenda, as the prospects for its social and economic development have been given recognition by policymakers and leaders of nations,” she stated.
Mrs. Anno-Kumi also disclosed that government is embarking on a programme to strengthen its borders; not only to enhance security and prevent terrorism, but also to prevent irregular flow of migrants.
Touching on the Global Compact for Migration that Ghana has signed, she gave assurance government will put in place measures to manage its programmes effectively in order to derive the desired social and economic benefits.
“This project is crucial in supporting Ghana’s migration governance. It reflects a true commitment to building migration partnerships which are also geared toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Dominic Agyeman, Director-Immigration Unit at the Ministry of Interior, in a statement read on his behalf.
The EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, said the project highlights the linkages between migration and all other sectors, such as agriculture, finance and health. “This is why I am glad that it will contribute to building migration-related capacities in the different ministries and various UN agencies.”
Ghana has made important strides in recent years toward improving its migration policy framework, notably through the development of a national migration policy. In addition to supporting the implementation of this policy, this project will help government achieve the 23 objectives set under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, through the formulation and development of a comprehensive five-year plan of action.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani, on his part called for a joint approach that leverages all expertise to deliver lasting and sustainable outcomes: “This is especially true for cross-cutting issues such as migration. With this project, and through the UN Network on Migration, we can demonstrate our intentional approach to deliver as one and be more responsive to the needs of Ghana’s government as far as migration is concerned”.
The launch was preceded by a media briefing attended by senior journalists who play a key role in contributing to balanced migration reporting.
The project is funded by the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) under the global Building Migration Partnerships Programme implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as coordinator and secretariat of the Network in close collaboration with Network members – made up of UN entities – and stakeholders.
