GHANAIANS AMBITIOUS to stay and work legally in the Diaspora can now hinge their hopes on the establishment of a foreign labour migration policy soon.
S.O. Archer, Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation at the Ministry of Employment & Social Services, made this known when he was addressing graduands of the Certified Global Worker Programme recently in Accra.
According to him, research has shown that remittances from Ghanaians in the Diaspora far outweigh official development assistance the country receives.
It is for this reason that government is putting together an internal ministerial committee to work on the policy and ensure that contracts signed between countries and companies in the Diaspora and also the trajectory of Ghanaians seeking jobs there are well followed and obeyed.
The policy, he continued, will state the position of Government and give a clear direction on international migration as prescribed by L.I.1993 which seeks to improve private and other foreign companies’ operation in Ghana.
“Both developing and developed nations can no longer conduct socio-economic development plan without taking into consideration labour migration.â€Â
He said even though developing countries are growing between 8 percent and 12 percent, such growth does not translate into job creation hence migration.
He therefore assured graduands that Government is aware of the Certified Global Worker Programme especially since it is a well-organized one that introduces trainees to international culture, the nature of contract and job, financial management and support back home among others.
Dr Archer said one remarkable thing with international labour migration is the adaptation to diverse cultural environments, exposure to advanced technological advancement, as well as a string of several other experiences not to mention the moral confidence, new ideas and strategies to be explored.
He however expressed dismay at the Ghana-Qatar Migration Programme last year which experienced certain setbacks owing to the lack of in-depth explanation on the contract and also the back-door selection of people that saw them stranded at Qatar.
He congratulated Princess Asie Ocansey, CEO of Channels of Blessings Ministry, facilitators of the programme, for her efforts to train and help secure jobs for Ghanaians legally outside the country.
Ms Ocansey, in a remark said a lot of people have gained legal employment and stay in Europe, USA and elsewhere under the program adding that some are on holidays just after a year.
One of such beneficiaries is Charles Mukwah, who works with Berry Y&V Global Industrial Inc, in the oil fields of Alberta, Canada.
Expressing gratitude to God, he described as authentic the Certified Global Worker Programme mentioning the immense benefits he has derived from it.
By Samuel Boadi