By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, June 24, GNA – Ghana has announced plans to review her migration and labour policies to strengthen labour mobility pathways to address emerging challenges in labour migration.
The move forms part of efforts to align Ghana’s legal and policy frameworks with current global trends and ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration for Ghanaian workers.
Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, disclosed this in a keynote address at the National Policy Dialogue on Labour Mobility Pathways held in Accra.
The event, organised in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and supported by the African Union’s (AU) Joint Programme on Labour Migration Governance, brought together policymakers, diplomats, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving labour migration governance.
Dr. Pelpuo emphasised that the review would cover key legal instruments, including the Refugee Law, the Immigration Act, the Labour Act, and the Human Trafficking Act, to ensure that they effectively protected migrant workers and promoted ethical recruitment practices.
He added that the National Migration Policy and the National Labour Migration Policy covering 2020-2024 would be revised to reflect evolving labour market demands and emerging migration trends.
“Recognising the changing dynamics of migration, we are initiating a review of these laws to address contemporary challenges. These policy frameworks will prioritise youth employment, gender equity, and the use of digital tools to enhance migration governance,” he said.
The Minister reiterated Ghana’s commitment to regional and global migration frameworks, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063, Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) protocols and the Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration(GCM).
He also revealed that the outcome of the National Policy Dialogue would inform government’s decisions on labour migration policies with a focus on youth empowerment, gender inclusion, and sustainable development.
This Minster urged the participants to work towards actionable solutions that would shape the future of labour mobility.
The Minister also cited a data from the International Organisation for Migration which showed that about 70,000 Ghanaians migrated irregularly in 2023 with 45 per cent using the dangerous central Mediterranean route.
He noted that to tackle the challenge, the continent needed a stronger bilateral labour agreements, joint programmes with destination countries and the establishment of migration innovation hub to develop digital solutions for migration governance.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong