Ghana and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on migration governance, labour mobility and diaspora engagement following high-level discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson, received the IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mrs. Sylvia Ekra, on Friday, November 6, 2026, during a courtesy call aimed at strengthening the longstanding partnership between Ghana and the migration agency.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both parties to exchange views on key areas of mutual interest, including labour mobility, regular migration pathways, migrant protection, return and sustainable reintegration, diaspora engagement and regional cooperation.
Mrs. Ekra congratulated Ghana on its impending assumption of the Chairmanship of the African Union in 2027 and expressed IOM’s readiness to support the country’s migration and development agenda.
She underscored the importance of engaging the Ghanaian diaspora and pledged the organisation’s support for initiatives designed to harness the expertise, skills and resources of Ghanaians living abroad for national development.
Mrs. Ekra also stressed the need for IOM interventions and programmes to align closely with Ghana’s national development priorities to ensure effective collaboration and sustainable outcomes.
Highlighting the organisation’s longstanding presence in the country, she noted that IOM has operated in Ghana for 39 years, with 2027 marking the agency’s 40th anniversary of partnership with the Government of Ghana.
In his remarks, Mr. Gyakye Quayson expressed gratitude to IOM for its continued technical and operational support to Ghana in areas such as migration governance, migrant protection, labour migration, border management, return and reintegration, and anti-human trafficking efforts.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the organisation and emphasized the government’s determination to expand safe and regular migration opportunities for young Ghanaians.
The Deputy Minister noted that efforts to promote skills mobility and decent employment opportunities abroad must be pursued alongside measures to safeguard the rights and welfare of Ghanaian migrants.
Mr. Gyakye Quayson further emphasized the importance of sustainable reintegration programmes for returning migrants, stating that access to skills training, livelihood opportunities and social support services was essential to their successful reintegration into society.
As part of the engagement, the IOM presented a copy of its newly launched Ghana Strategic Plan 2026-2028 to the Deputy Minister. The plan focuses on saving lives and protecting people on the move, developing solutions to displacement and facilitating pathways for safe and regular migration.
The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Ghana and the IOM and underscored a shared commitment to promoting well-managed migration as a driver of sustainable development.