The EU Ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna, will begin a two-day visit to the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana from October 1 ? 2, 2015 to meet authorities and organizations and local communities concerned with migration management and to learn lessons from EU-funded projects on migration management.
On 2 October 2015, Ambassador Hanna will pay a courtesy call on the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister in his office. Their discussions will focus on the causes of migrations in the Brong Ahafo Region, efforts made in the Region to deal with this problem, suggestions to address the issue, and expectations for the new Migration Consultation Centre.
Ambassador Hanna together with officials of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will meet with potential migrants and returnees from Malta in Nkoranza, exchange with them, and to see the efforts of returnees to re-establish their lives back home.
Background:
Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA)
The Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA) is a project, funded by the European Union (EU) under the 10th European Development Fund and is implemented jointly by International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the Government of Ghana?s efforts to manage migration effectively through the establishment of an integrated migration management approach. Specifically, the project aims to enhance the institutional capacities of GIS to implement effective migration management measures, increase the awareness of (potential) migrants on safe and legal migration and provide alternative livelihood options, and strengthen the national migration data management system.
Migration is a complex issue that needs a multi-dimensional approach. Although capacity building is one major strategy in managing migration, it does not address all resulting issues. The Integrated Management Approach to migration management uses a comprehensive, transparent and coherent approach to migration and border management processes.
The GIMMA project utilizes three main strategies: capacity building for officials at the forefront of migration management, information campaign and alternative livelihood identification, and the establishment of a national database for effective migration related policy making activities.
Migration Consultation Centre (MCC)
In order to enhance the national capacities to promote safe, humane, voluntary and orderly migration, as part of the GIMMA project, the following activities are being implemented:
? Rehabilitation of Migration Information Bureau in Accra and Migration Consultation Centre in Sunyani.
? Information Outreach and safe and legal migration
? Support to returnees/communities prone to irregular migration to highlight alternative livelihood options.
Migration Information Bureau (MIB) in Accra and Migration Consultation Centre (MCC) in Sunyani, both managed by the GIS, were created seven years ago to promote safe migration. Currently, the centres are facing a number of operational challenges and have not been sufficiently meeting the needs of visitors. The new building at Sunyani, will offer a neutral space for potential and actual migrants to obtain accurate and reliable information on migration procedures and required documentation, the risks of irregular migration, and the rights and responsibilities of migrants throughout the migration process. The new MCC building in Sunyani will be completed soon and is expected to be launched officially during the International Migrants Day celebration in December 2015.
