Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in collaboration with the Swiss Government and the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), has commenced a two-week Migration Management Course for 28 West African practitioners in the field of migration, from various countries in the sub-region.
The opening ceremony of the second edition of the first fully-fledged migration course in the sub-region, took place at the Conference Room 2 of the KAIPTC, Teshie, with Switzerland’s Ambassador to Ghana – Her Excellency (HE) Simone Giger as the Guest of Honour, on Monday 5 February 2024.
HE Giger in her presentation, said migration could mean flight and protection from conflict, insecurity, economic hardship, climate change, studies or new work opportunities.
It entails trafficking and smuggling, fraud and crime, human rights abuses and separated families but also family reunions, development, remittances, integration and new beginnings, and affects personal situations as well as whole societies, she continued.
HE S Giger stated that migration cannot be tackled by any country alone, and that Switzerland therefore, strongly encourages a global approach to migration, based on partnership and cooperation.
The developed migration course, with focus on practical relevance, tries to deliver a comprehensive picture of the migration phenomenon, with a special focus on the West African region, while aiming at discussing regional solutions, and encouraging international and regional cooperation, to managing migration and movement patterns in the region.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Commandant, KAIPTC – Air Commodore (A/Cdre) David Akrong, said reality is that, the world is witnessing an era of unprecedented human mobility that neither the current global economic down turn, nor restrictive security measures can halt, however, properly managed migration could bring benefits both to migrants and societies.
Trends and patterns in migration in Africa are shaped by many factors including rapid population and labour force growth, unstable politics, escalating ethnic conflicts, economic decline and environmental deterioration, he continued.
These factors, A/Cdre Akrong said, are usually brought about by a mismatch between the rapid population growth and the available resources, low level of requisite technology to exploit the available natural resources, and capacity to create employment and jobs at the countries of origin.
Migration being a diverse and complex phenomenon with many different causes, it has driven people to move in search of better or alternative opportunities, and for some communities, migration has become a survival strategy, the Deputy Commandant said.
He concluded that the KAIPTC’s Migration Management Course is intended to equip participants with the knowledge, tools and skills, to help reduce the negative effects of migration, while maximising the positive aspects.
“Migration is a transformational force that can facilitate innovation, drive development and catalyse economic empowerment. It is one of the defining issues of our time.” – Amy Pope – Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Countries represented at the course include Benin, Cameroun, la Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal.
Present at the inauguration included the Director of Training, KAIPTC – Colonel Anorph Barnabas Akanbong; Course Director – Mrs Auguster Ahorsey; Swiss Immigration Liaison Officer – Mrs Regula Hardegger, and Course Facilitators.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
