Accra - To commemorate International Migrants Day (IMD) on 18 December 2019, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized a series of events in New Takoradi, including games, participatory street art, cultural displays, sharing of stories of returnees, conversations about safe migration,  and a performance by IOM Goodwill Ambassador Kofi Kinaata.

This year’s activities were inspired by the global IMD theme of Social Cohesion. The event organized in collaboration with Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and in the presence of Mr Charles Kobina, Aide to the Regional Minister, the European Union Delegation in Ghana, as well as chiefs and religious leaders, brought together youths, returned migrants and community members. 

During the event, returned migrants shared their stories to encourage youths not to risk their lives searching for greener pastures, and to invite communities to embrace and not stigmatize returned migrants so their reintegration can be sustainable.

DCI Dr. Prosper Asima, Regional Commander of the GIS, Western Regional Command, stressed that migration is “a unifying force”: “Together, migrants and communities promote social and economic development. Social cohesion is, therefore, a continuing reality of migration.” He confirmed GIS’s commitment to continue its awareness-raising efforts on the benefits of safe migration and the dangers of irregular migration through its Migration Management Bureau (MMB) and Migration Information Centres (MIC).

During the ceremony, 25 returned migrants their graduation certificates from the National Vocational Training Institute.

“We need to work together to ensure that migration is a choice and not a necessity. We need to ensure that we leave no one behind and that laws and policies are in place to guarantee that people have access to rights and basic services here in Ghana. And we need to speak to, engage, and listen to our youth – they are creative, resourceful, strong, brave, and the future is theirs.”, said Kojo Wilmot, IOM Project Officer.

The highlight of the event was a unique performance by IOM Goodwill Ambassador Kofi Kinaata. He passionately addressed the audience of over 5,000 people, reminding the youth that there are opportunities in Ghana which they should take advantage of. He also performed his song “No Place Like Home”, urging the youth to say no to irregular migration. He performed it again during his “Made in Taadi” concert on 21 December which an audience of 30,000 attended for free. Kofi Kinaata also initiated a seminar at the Takoradi Technical University, to sensitize some 2000 youth to employment opportunities within Ghana and connect them to potential employers.

In the run-up to IMD, GIS organized a float involving 300 GIS officers and free medical screening for 500 people in New Takoradi. Later this week, upon the initiative of Kofi Kinaata, a youth seminar under the theme “Transitioning from Empowerment to Employment” will take place at the Takoradi University, bringing together the youth with business leaders.

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For more information, please contact Juliane Reissig at IOM Ghana, Email: jreissig@iom.int