Draft policy on migration to be ready soon

The Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) of the University of Ghana (UG)- Legon, on Tuesday said it was preparing a draft document on the national migration policy for consideration by government.

It said the draft policy document, which was in its third and final process of drafting would be ready by the end of August and was aimed at addressing the positive and negative aspects of migration and to harness its potential for national development.

Prof. Mariama Awumbila, Director of the CMS of the UG, speaking at the consultative forum in Tamale, said migration was the third major foreign exchange earner for the country and that if it is properly harnessed, it could propel national development.

The CMS of the University of Ghana was asked by the Interior Ministry in October 2011 to develop the national policy document to ensure the effective management of migration issues in the country.

It is being sponsored by the European Union through the International Organization for Migration and it is aimed at addressing the negative effects of migration.

The forum is the first of three forums to be organized in Kumasi and Accra to input the views and concerns of the members of the public into the draft document.

Prof. Awumbila said the draft document deals with migration management, adding that migration issues cut across diverse issues of economic, social and political and climate.

She said the document after being presented to the Interior Ministry, would still undergo thorough processes including the Attorney General’s Department’s input before finally presented to parliament.

Prof. Stephen Kwankye, the Consultant of the draft document, said the country had experienced several negative effects of migration and that with the oil find in Ghana, more foreigners were likely to migrate into the country.

He said the country could gain more dividends from the migration of its nationals both internally and internationally.

Prof. David Millar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), who chaired the forum, recommended that the Fulani herdsmen in the country be maintained for economic gains by registering and taxing them for national development instead of chasing them out of the country.

Some of the participants called for an independent ministry to handle the national policy on migration during its implementation so that it would not fail.