Migrants deserve respect - IOM

Accra, Dec. 18, GNA - Ghana on Friday joined the global celebration of the International Migrants Day with a call on governments to ensure respect for human dignity and well-being of migrants.

The Day celebrated on December 18, every year is used to recognise the contribution of migrants in the advancement of their host and home countries' economies.

The theme for this year's celebration is: "Making Migration Work for Development: The Role of Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities." Ms Dyane Epstein, Chief of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana, said migration was a complex phenomenon which was steadily making its way to the top of international affairs, and urged all governments to support the efficient and effective management of migratory processes.

"There is now increasing recognition that migration can bring significant benefits to countries of origin," she said, stressing the need to facilitate the orderly and humane management of migration. Drawing linkages between migration, climate change and development, Ms Epstein said climate change would cause population movements by making certain parts of the world much less viable places to live.

"This means that the well-being of even more people and communities would be subjected to our ability to manage migration in a way that increases the benefits, opportunities and reduce suffering." She referred to the climate change summit in Copenhagen as a step in the right direction, but called for greater efforts beyond Copenhagen to tackle the complex issue of environmental and climate induced migration. Mr. Daouda Toure, United Nations Resident Coordinator, who read a speech on behalf of Mr Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations General Secretary, recapped the need to protect the human rights of migrants, referring to migration as part of the solution to the world problems. Commenting on illegal migration, he said the attendant dangers of illegal migration had resulted in making many countries to have tighter restrictions on migration.

Mr. Toure however, said there was a demand on foreign workers in certain sectors of the economy and urged governments to blend the two sides to ensure maximum benefit from migration. Ms Elizabeth Adjei, Director General of Ghana Immigration Service, announced that Ghana would next year have a migration office that would deal with all migration issues.

She said a migration policy for Ghana, would be drafted from next year, and called for views from civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations. "Migration impacts on all people," Ms Adjei added. 18 Dec. 09