Ghana has launched a coordinated national effort to strengthen legal and ethical labour migrants and convened a high-level policy dialogue with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Committee on African Union (AUC).
The three-day national policy dialogue on labor mobility pathways brought together senior policymakers, diaspora representatives, international organizations, civil society groups, and diplomatian thematic missions. The goal was to chart a sustainable, rights-based approach to labour mobility that benefits both Ghana and the broader West and Central African regions.
According to official data, more than 970,000 Ghanaians lived abroad in 2019, contributing through remittances, skills transfers and investments. Ghana also hosted more than 466,000 international migrants, primarily from economic communities of West African countries (ECOWAS) members, reinforced the country's importance as a source and destination for regional labor migrants.
“The national policy dialogue marks a historic milestone in the collective pursuit of safe, orderly, and regular migration,” said Dr. Abdul Rashid Hassan Perpuo, Minister of Labor, Employment and Employment. “This initiative empowers people, strengthens the economy and supports long-term development.”
Iom Ghana's mission head Fatou Diallo Ndiaye highlighted the urgency of the initiative. “At a time when irregular migrants continue to expose immigrants to exploitation and abuse, expanding their normal pathways is both a humanitarian order and a development strategy,” she said.
Ghana has emerged as a leader in regional migration governance, adjusting domestic legislation to global frameworks such as the African Union Agenda 2063, African immigration policy, and the Global Compact at Migration. National laws, including human trafficking laws, immigration laws and diaspora engagement policies, support this integrity.
The country is also promoting Bilateral Labour Migration Agreement (BLMAS) and Skills Mobility Partnership through the AU-IOM-ILO Joint Labour Migration Program (JLMP), which aims to enable safe, structured and economically viable labour exchanges.
Key outcomes from the policy dialogue included an appeal for improved coordination across agencies, strengthening data systems, and expanding partnerships for skills-based education-related migration opportunities.
With its expansion of the youth population, strong diaspora networks and regional integration efforts, Ghana places labour mobility as a central pillar of its economic and social development strategy.
The IOM affirmed its continued commitment to government and community support in building a comprehensive transition system that promotes safety, dignity and shared growth.
