Abuja, Accra – From 29 to 31 January 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) facilitated a study visit for a delegation from the Government of Ghana (GoG) to meet with the Nigerian Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Peoples (NCFRMI) in Abuja, Nigeria.

Since 2004, the NCFRMI has been serving as the coordinating body for all migration issues in the country. During the study visit, participants learnt about the mandate of the Commission as well as challenges and achievements.

“Your presence here is a testimony that our policy is a success,” said the Federal Commissioner, Honourable Basheer Garba Mohammed. “We are happy to share our blueprint. The issue of migration is not one that a Ministry can do alone. We recognise the need for partnership.”

The acquired knowledge will help the GoG in the process of setting up the Ghanaian National Migration Commission, a key recommendation from the 2016 Ghana National Migration Policy.

The Delegation was led by Professor Mariama Awumbila from the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS), who is the Chair of the inter-agency technical working group tasked to establish the Commission. Prof. Awumbila said: “This visit has been extremely helpful and relevant for our work. We look forward to continuing the partnership.”

The Ghanaian Delegation, comprised of officials from the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), spearheading the process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MoFARI), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), Management Services Division, and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

The study visit, a prime example for south-south cooperation and knowledge exchange, is funded by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the Peace and Development Fund, of which the People’s Republic of China is a major contributor.

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For more information, please contact Eric Kwame Akomanyi (Project Assistant) at IOM Ghana, Tel: +233302742930, Email: eakomanyi@iom.int, or Henry Akwitti (National Project Officer) at IOM Nigeria, Tel: +2348131842454, Email: hakwitti@iom.int