Author: Beyonce Diamond Kpogli
Migration Advocacy Center (MAC) in collaboration with the Center for Migration Studies, the University of Ghana, and the University of Cape Town has held the second community dialogue with a focus on West Africa foreigners nationals living in Ghana.
The dialogue which was held at Clossag Headoffice in Accra under the Migration for Development and Equality (MIDEQ) Research Project was to highlight the challenges of the host actor community, and challenges of migrants in Ghana and develop strategies to addressing the challenges and to build social cohesion.
Festus Owooson, the Project Co-Lead, MAC, in an interview, said the project constitutes a component of the MIDEQ research project with a focus on building social connections between stakeholders, policymakers, and migrants in the country.
He said it is very important to sustain a very close relationship with migrants so that the peace between Ghanaians and migrants is maintained. “while we respect their rights as people on the move while they also appreciate laws and the rules so we can all live peacefully”.
Mr. Festus Owooson added that migrants are excluded from having access to many basic amenities, hence suggesting that measures are put in place to ensure that migrants can get the best benefit as they contribute to the development of our economy.
“migrants are excluded in so many things at times like access to hospitals, schools and inability to get a bank account and even getting SIM CARD because of the required documents. It is not easy for them to get as some may have come here illegally but they are residing for years”.
He further mentioned that the Constitution that governs migrants should be reviewed and be accommodating.
Dr. Frank Ayisi, a Researcher and a Fellow with MAC said migration issues should be considered and included in developmental programs of the country.
He underscored Ghana has done well in addressing migration issues hence there is more to be done to ensure inclusiveness.
The dialogue was in attended by the General Secretary and members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association, the Migrants Association of Ghana, the Africa Trade Unions Migration Network, the Media, and many more.
