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The European Union (EU) in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have launched a three-year project aimed at enhancing migration governance in Ghana.
The €2.9 million initiative known as the “ATUU” project, seeks to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to manage migration effectively, ensuring it is orderly and mutually beneficial.
It would enhance the ability of stakeholders to provide protection and social assistance to vulnerable migrants at both national and local levels while building on previous EU-IOM migration initiatives that focuses on strengthening institutional capacity, improving data collection, and assisting vulnerable migrants.
Additionally, “ATUU” aims to establish a national referral mechanism in order to support the sustainable reintegration of returnees into the Ghanaian society.
Speaking at the launch in Accra on Thursday, the Minister for the Interior and National Security, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, in a speech read on his behalf, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to safe migration, emphasising its critical role in sustainable development.
He said the country’s adoption of a national implementation plan (NIP) last year, for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) aimed at ensuring policy and operational coherence in migration was testament to the government’s commitment to strengthening migration governance and reaping its development benefits thereof.
Alhaji Muntaka underlined that ATUU would further support the implementation of the NIP and enhance the capacity of relevant government agencies to improve assistance to vulnerable migrants.
The Head of Governance and Security of the EU Delegation to Ghana, Anna Lixi, highlighted key components of the “ATUU” project, including the establishment of a national referral mechanism to provide returnees with training and community-based projects for returnees as well as enhanced protection for vulnerable migrants at borders and local communities.
She noted that by strengthening the governance framework for migration in Ghana, “we are creating an environment where migrants can contribute meaningfully to development.”
Miss Fatou Ndiaye, IOM Chief of Mission, stressed the importance of coordination, noting that effective partnerships prevented confusion among stakeholders and promote cohesion towards supporting migrants.
“Fostering partnership and coordination in migration management yields significant benefits for the State. The absence of coordination, coherence, and cooperation can lead to confusion among various stakeholders and competition between them,” she stated.
The launch was attended by representatives of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), security services, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), development partners and civil society groups.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
