The National President of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Migration in Ghana (CCMG), Eric Boakye Peasah, has called on the government to decentralise migration governance by empowering metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to manage migration-related issues within their jurisdictions. He made this call at the close of the two-day 2026 Post-International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) National Stakeholder Dialogue, organised by CCMG in partnership with GIZ and the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) at the University of Ghana.
Decentralising Migration Governance
Mr Boakye Peasah argued that because foreign nationals are present in communities across the country, migration governance should no longer be handled primarily from the national level. "In reality, most migration activities, challenges and opportunities play out at the local level," he said. He added that managing migration governance should also take place more within the districts.
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has already taken a step in this direction by introducing a policy requiring every district assembly to incorporate migration into its development agenda this year. However, Mr Boakye Peasah noted that the assemblies would require more than policy directives to perform the role effectively. "They all need information for planning, response and support services," he said.
Proposal for a Digital Migration Platform
To bridge the information gap, the CCMG President proposed the establishment of a dedicated digital platform for metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies. He explained that the platform could serve as a central repository for migration data, policy guidance and public education. "With this digital platform, the assembly can even provide basic information as a beginning point. It can be a step ahead," he said.
Condemning Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa
Commenting on the recent xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa, Mr Boakye Peasah condemned the violence and called on the African Union to take decisive action. He expressed disappointment that South Africans appeared to have forgotten the support they received from other African countries, including Ghana, during the country's liberation struggle. "It is disappointing that South Africans have failed to remember the massive support the country received from African countries, including Ghana, during the liberation struggle," he said.
Collaboration and Evidence-Based Approach
The Implementation Manager and Programme Component Manager for the Development-oriented Migration Programme at GIZ, Abena Owusua Amponsah-Bio, also called for a collaborative and evidence-based approach to migration governance. She said migration created opportunities for economic growth, innovation, cultural exchange and development while also presenting complex challenges that required evidence-based responses. "No single institution can address these issues alone," she said.
Moving Beyond Dialogue
A speech delivered on behalf of the Director of the Migration Directorate at the Ministry of the Interior, Freda Agyei Asare, highlighted the critical role civil society organisations continue to play in Ghana's migration governance framework. She said stakeholders must now move beyond dialogue and focus on implementing the commitments emerging from the 2026 International Migration Review Forum. "As key stakeholders, our responsibility extends beyond dialogue. We must now focus on translating the commitments and lessons emerging from the 2026 IMRF into practical national actions," she said.
The call for decentralising migration governance and the proposal for a digital migration platform are significant steps towards more effective migration management in Ghana. However, the success of these initiatives will depend on the government's willingness to empower metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to take ownership of migration-related issues within their jurisdictions. As the country moves forward, it is essential to continue advocating for humane migration policies and protecting the rights and dignity of migrants.
Source: Joy Online
