The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in collaboration with International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), European return and reintegration network (ERRIN), Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and Ministry of Children, Family, Refugees and Integration has launched the Migration Information Centre for Returnees (MICR) at the Kotoka International Airport.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Interior Mrs. Adelaide Annor Kumi gave an opening remarks on behalf of the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, noted that the project has been initiated with the objective to increase the Ghanaian Administration’s ownership in the coordination of reception of returnees, as well as the quality of reintegration services offered to returning migrants.
He disclosed that the government of Ghana and other relevant agencies have emphasized on the need to adopting a comprehensive measure to fight illegal migration.
The project, according to the Minister , is in has two phases,
“The first phase, which is to set up a Migration Information Centre for Returnees with a special focus on building the capacities of the Ghana Immigration Service with regards to reception of returnees as it was witnessed yesterday.”
“The second phase looks into the additional capacity-building and adding on a specific component of bringing together all key reintegration actors actively in the country.”
He stated that, Migration is a security issue and as such must not be addressed only using security measures.
“There are other factors that influence illegal migration such as poverty, climate change that have led to the loss of livelihoods of people, misinformation regarding migration where people have the belief that once they migrate their fortunes will suddenly turn around for good and so forth” he added.
Additionally, he said the government of Ghana and other stakeholders are mindful of the importance of addressing these issues that influence Ghanaians to illegally migrate to Europe for greener pastures.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI) Kwame Asuah Takyi in his opening remarks noted that, the MICR came about when the Service realised the need to keep proper documented records of Ghanaian Returned migrants and above all to receive migrants in a manner that is dignified.
He stated the, MICR is committed in strengthening the national administration capacity of the Ghana Immigration Service in the coordination of the reception of returnees and the dissemination of information on how to assess education etc in Ghana as well as quality of reintegration services offered to returnees migrants especially from Germany and other European countries.
” We want Ghanaian migrants who decide to return to Ghana to do so in a save and dignified way in full respect of human rights standards our task is to make it possible, our mission is to provide tackle step by step assistant” he said.
He added that , the ICMPD GIS joint initiative has since 2019 has assisted over 1000 migrant returnees into the country and over 600 of the returnees have benefited from the reintegration support.
CGI Kwame Asuah Takyi added that , IT and management training was conducted by the IPMC IT training center in accra to increase the capacity of GIS officers to collect, manage and analysis sensitive data.
He also stated that, a training session on counseling and conflict management techniques to sensitise officers on the Psycho social needs of returnees with the aim of strengthening their counseling capacity and ensuring effect Communication upon their arrival.
He the showed appreciation to the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and Ministry of Children, Family, Refugees and Integration, ICMPD and the ERRIN for their support in marking the center a reality.
Head of West Africa Region, ICMPD, Mojisola Sodeinde in her remarks noted that, her outfit since 2018 has been implementing the European Return and Reintegration Network (ERRIN) and is currently operating in 40 countries.
“ ICMPD is providing expertise and administrative support to EU Member States and third countries to improve their relationship and collaboration on migration issues” she said.
She continued, that the project also supports the implementation of innovative projects, thereby offering a wide range of services to returnees.
Madam Mojisola Sodeinde Stated that, in Ghana ERRIN is supporting returnees through its service provider “AG CARE”, a non-profit organisation, which provides psychosocial counselling, training and livelihood support to Ghanaian returnees.
The Ministry for Children, Family, Refugees and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Dr. Joachim Stamp, also in his remarks stated that, Ghana has been North Rhine-Westphalia’s partner country since 2007.
He further stated that the MICR is the result of the great commitment and the efforts of all project partners.
“The actual idea to establish the MICR came up during an administrative exchanges between Ghana and North K Westphalia in 2018/ 2019 as one element of the partnership between Ghana and North Rhine-Westphalia.”
