The government has been focusing on coordinating interventions to promote decent employment through labour migration, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (MERL), Ignatius Baffour Awuah has said.
This he said involved collaboration with relevant partners to ensure all new jobs created become permanent and formal in the long run.
The Minister made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf during the Ghana Career and Migration Fair 2023 held in Accra.
It was held on the theme “Bridging opportunities for skilled employment, education, and entrepreneurship” in collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency and the Ghanaian-European Center for Jobs Migration and Development (GEC).
The annual fair which is in its fifth year presented a platform for more than 2000 participants to explore career opportunities and educational prospects in Ghana, Germany and within the European Union (EU).
According to the Minister, the fair was a contribution to improve employment promotion and complement the government for an all inclusive approach to decent jobs, migration management and overall socio-economic development in Ghana.
He said “Government has been focusing on coordinating interventions to promote employment and labour migration has emerged as an opportunity to support this agenda.
“However to effectively benefit from labour migration, it must be well managed.”
He mentioned that in promoting employment his outfit collaborates with stakeholders such as GIZ and the EU, adding that career fairs were essential for promoting public private partnerships.
Country Director of GIZ Ghana, Dr Dirk Abmann on his part indicated that skilled labour migration was a win win for the host country and the country of origin adding that Germany and Europe were looking for skillful people.
This need, he said provided opportunities for young ambitious Ghanaians to gain valuable experiences abroad amd send remittances back home to support the local economy.
He emphasised that when returning to Ghana, experiences acquired in Europe will help transfer knowledge across the economy and hence contribute to the development of Ghana as a whole.
The European Eunion Ambassador to Ghana, Razaaly Irchad Razaaly reiterated the EU’s commitment to boosting employment opportunities in Ghana which he said was resolute and being constantly demonstrated.
“We are a main supporting partner of private sector development and entrepreneurship. Private sector and entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in driving sustainable economic growth.”
“Through strategic interventions we work to create environment conducive for business, job creation and innovation,” he added.
He assured of the EU’s commitment to fostering partnerships that facilitates orderly, safe and regular migration.
The impact that skilled migration has on both Ghana and the EU, he said could not be underrated.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU