Prof. Daniel Ofori Advocates the Protection of Migrant Rights by Security Agencies

The Provost of College of Humanities, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori has advocated the Protection of Migrant Rights by Security Agencies, during a capacity building workshop held at the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) on Migration Management and Migrant Rights.

As the keynote speaker for the workshop, Professor Ofori thanked the Centre for organising such an important training programme. In his view, the capacity building initiative could not have come at a better time when globally about 53% of the world's population, including migrant workers lack access to social protection. He said that the situation is not different in Ghana because we have reportedly witnessed violation of migrants’ rights at various stages in the migration process, including harassment and maltreatment at points of entry. He underscored the enthusiasm of the University of Ghana in strengthening the capacity of practitioners and policymakers including members of the various security forces, to align themselves with best practices adopted worldwide and strive to be on the side of the abused, maligned, displaced and destitute.

Professor Ofori stressed the importance of the workshop as a platform to enhance the capacity to manage migration, provide an opportunity for the exchange of perspectives on the role of security officials in the protection of migrant rights in Ghana and the need to rely on the various recommendations from the sessions to strengthen mechanisms laid down for the protection of migrant rights and broad migration management.

Professor Joseph Kofi Teye, addressing participants at the workshop

Professor Joseph Kofi Teye, Co-Director of the Migration, Inequality and Development (MIDEQ) project and Director of Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID), indicated that for the first time in Ghana, a huge field data of 1,268 Chinese migrants has been collected to help enhance livelihoods of migrants and to improve migration management.

A cross-section of security personnel at the Workshop

Speaking on behalf of the security agencies, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Ghana Immigration Service, in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr. Isaac Owusu Mensah stated, that despite its complex nature, international migration is likely to expand. He noted that it needs a multi-dimensional approach, adding that capacity building is one such major strategy. Mr. Owusu Mensah said the adoption of the integrated management approach, a globally accepted comprehensive, transparent and coherent means to address migration and border control is of crucial importance.

Dr. Mary Boatemaa Setrana, Director of the Centre for Migration Studies making remarks at the workshop

Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Migration Studies and a Researcher on the MIDEQ project, Dr. Mary Boatemaa Setrana, in her opening address, welcomed and thanked the over 80 security personnel drawn from the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service and the Ghana National Fire Service who participated in the workshop as part of the MIDEQ project. She expressed optimism that the workshop would provide a unique opportunity for sharing relevant experiences on how security agencies could collaborate to protect the rights of migrants within the broad migration framework of Ghana.