42 government officials from 10 African countries, including Ghana, participated in a four-day training programme to enhance protection for citizens working in the Arab state.
The event, held in Doha, Qatar from April 14-17, 2025, brings together representatives from Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, remains in the residences of African workers, especially women who remain in their domestic settlements.
The Arab region has become an important destination for migrant workers.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the region has the highest global share of migrant workers in total, reaching 41.4% in 2019 compared to the global average of just 5%.
Among these migrants are many African citizens, including Ghanaians, who are seeking better economic opportunities.
However, persistent reports of abuse, exploitation, inadequate working conditions, and especially domestic workers, highlight the urgent need for enhanced protective mechanisms.
Unlike many Asian countries with long-standing labour migrant systems and bilateral labor agreements, many African countries are in the early stages of creating an institutional framework to manage labor migrants and ensure the protection of migrant workers.
In this regard, diplomatic missions play an important role, serving as the first responder to deal with labor conflicts, providing consul support, and promoting access to justice.
So far, few African countries have worked to strengthen their diplomatic missions by appointing labor attacks specialising in labor and employment issues, such as addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers.
Ghana is willing to provide advice and support services to labour migrants, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances, but has yet to deploy labor attributes to the Foreign Relations Commission.
To strengthen diplomatic missions in addressing immigration issues, Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor and Employment, International Labour Organization (ILO), and Germany's Geselschel Internationals Sun Menalveit (GIZ) GMBH jointly organized four-day training for representatives from African countries, including Ghana.
The training was held under the themes that promote fundamental rights, governance and protection of migrant workers.
In a welcome speech, David Nii Adi, director of the global program “Development and Development-oriented Migration Formation (MEG), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), recognized that migrant workers and the African diaspora have acknowledged their important contributions to international development in the Arab world, particularly emphasizing vulnerability.
“That's why we need to strive to promote fundamental rights, strengthen labor migrant governance, and protect migrant workers.”
He emphasized that achieving these goals requires coordinated action from governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and immigrant communities.
The four-day training provided comprehensive capacity building for key areas essential to effective labor migrant management and governance. This topic included fair recruitment practices, cooperation with local governments, pre-departure training, and oversight of international labour laws and standards.
Special attention was paid to the specific vulnerability of African migrant workers, particularly women, and the commitment to complex complaints, access to justice and effective remedies.
Without labor attacks, officers at Ghanaian consulates and diaspora desks were engaged to ensure continued institutional support for migrant workers abroad.
A training-based handbook is currently being developed to support and strengthen staff on Africa's diplomatic missions. This ensures continuity of knowledge sharing beyond the field participants.
Insights from training participants
Sarah Asare Opokua, Qatar, Embassy of Ghana, Qatar – “Before this training, we did not consider networking with host authorities and stakeholders of the country where migrant workers are intended as an important tool to tackle the abuse of migrant workers' rights.
Nana Yaa Bootmaa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana – “To participate in this training was a deep and eye-opening experience that shed light on the often overlooked struggles of immigrants. It has deepened my understanding, touched me, and fostered a greater awareness of the struggle of travel and struggle.”
Ghana's Embassy, Henry Agiekum, Berlin – “This training provided the opportunity to exchange and learn from the experiences of (two-stage labor agreements) Bla's other African countries.
Cairo, Ghana Embassy, Peter Okoh A. Allwell – “Million workers don't need to be treated specially. They need to be treated with respect and dignity.”
Ishmael Opale, Ghana Embassy, Libya – “All migrant workers need access to a fair justice system.”
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