Accra, Ghana, 18 December 2024 – On the occasion of International Migrants Day, migration stakeholders in Ghana, under the leadership of the National Coordination Mechanism for Migration (NCM), launched the National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in Ghana. A first of its kind in the region, the plan will ensure that the GCM will be effectively implemented in Ghana for the benefit of all migrants and society. The development of the Plan was made possible through the project “EU-UN Building Migration Partnerships’’ funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In the true spirit of partnership, government agencies, civil society representatives, other non-government stakeholders, and members of the Ghana UN Network on Migration and the Migration Coordination Platform gathered to launch the NIP.
The NIP is designed as a three-year plan covering the period 2025 to 2027 and will serve as an aggregator of the various policies within the migration governance framework of Ghana. One key action included in the Plan is the review and update of the National Migration Policy, which is intended to function as the primary document of reference for migration governance in the country.
“I’m happy to say that the Implementation Plan is not a mere document, considering the fact that Ghana is recognized as a champion country of the Global Compact for migration, following the steps of Kenya, on the continent,” said Doreen Anan, Ag. Chief Director, Ministry of the Interior. “I want to reiterate my appreciation to the UN Network on migration and all stakeholders for their meaningful support towards managing migration in Ghana and making sure that yesterday’s dream is materializing today.”
European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, said, “Partnerships are essential for the effective implementation of the Global Compact for Migration. The European Union reaffirms its commitment to supporting Ghana in achieving the priorities outlined in the National Implementation Plan.”
This major milestone was achieved following an extensive collaborative process among various actors from the government, civil society, the private sector, the Network and other international partners. The process included national consultations with all relevant government agencies and civil society organizations; capacity building training on the process and substance of the GCM for key government agencies, including the National Human Rights Institute, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ); a needs assessment and mapping of relevant government and non-government actors with responsibilities in migration governance; as well as the establishment of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) as the primary platform for a whole-of-government approach to migration governance. A thorough drafting and review process ensured the creation of today’s robust document.
“This plan is the result of extensive consultations with government agencies, civil society organizations, the United Nations Network on Migration and international partners. It reflects a broad consensus on the priorities and actions needed to achieve the goals of the GCM,” said Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, IOM Ghana's Chief of Mission. “Its implementation will ensure the protection of migrant's rights, promote safe and regular migration, foster international cooperation, and leverage migration for development”.
The Plan encompasses actions in six strategic areas: policy coherence, labour migration, border management and immigration, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, diaspora engagement and remittances, and return and reintegration.
For more information, please contact Randi-Lyn Miller, Public Information Officer, IOM Ghana, at ramiller@iom.int.
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