African countries still fragile in global affairs - Minister

Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, Deputy Northern Regional Minister says African countries are still very fragile in global affairs, a condition that would affect the economies of the Continent if they fail to unite.

He said the dream of Dr Kwame Nkrumah that Africans must unite as one great continent to champion its development is still relevant and must be pursued to its logical conclusion to ensure that economically and politically, the Continent would be able to face development challenges without any difficulty.

Alhaji Fuseini was addressing the first in series of sensitisation workshops on the national migration policy in Tamale last Monday, which was organised by the Ministry of the Interior in collaboration with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.

The workshop which brought together participants from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West was on the theme: “Social protection for migrants: challenges and prospects.”

Alhaji Fuseini said it was very imperative for West African countries to ensure the full implementation of free movement of persons within the Sub-region to promote development, explaining that European countries are economically independent yet they still saw the need for European Union.

The Minister, expressed worry about the continued migration of unskilled youth from the northern parts of the country to the south in search for non-existent jobs.

He said the region is endowed with material and human resources and called on development partners to assist the Government in finding lasting solutions for the benefit of the people.

Mr James Agalga, Deputy Interior Minister said the country has for the first time formulated a national migration policy to leverage its socio-economic benefits for accelerated development.

He said it is worrying that many Ghanaians continue to migrate to other parts of the world for economic reasons, and expressed the need for Ghanaians to join hands in implementing development-oriented policies for mutual benefit.

Mr Agalga indicated that the policy would provide holistic guidelines that are fused into the long and medium-term National Development Planning Commission 40-year development plan.

Dr Chris Anab, Coordinator of Social Programmes for the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, said the Authority would situate its master plans within migration policies for efficient development of the ecological zone.