The Strengthening Border Security in Ghana (SBS Ghana) project, funded by European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), organised a reception in Accra for three beneficiary organisations who received a three hundred thousand Euros grants, to implement activities that will support and contribute to innovative approaches on mobility issues and border management in Ghana.
The three beneficiary organisations, CDD-Ghana, Caritas Ghana and AfDOM, emerged as successful applicants from the first Demand Driven Facility Call for Proposal, launched in November 2020. The Demand Driven Facility (DDF) Call for Proposals invited civil society organisations, universities, research and training institutions, think tanks, traders’ organisations and media organisations, to submit projects highlighting innovative approaches and best practices on mobility and border management.
ACI Thomas Ewuntomah, acting Head of the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ghana Immigration Service, in congratulating the three beneficiaries mentioned that, “The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) welcomes the DDF initiative introduced by ICMPD and looks forward to more opportunities for increased knowledge sharing. GIS is committed to working together with the CDD Ghana, AfDOM and Caritas Ghana and all other stakeholders in coming up with innovative approaches on migration and border management in Ghana, for the greater good of the country.”
“Caritas Ghana is excited to benefit from the initiative of Strengthening Border Security (SBS) as a means of addressing the migration question. The project will allow us to deepen our action research, build capacity of key actors and provide critical services to irregular migrants for their effective resettlement and reintegration to their home communities”- Mr. Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana.
It is expected that the activities to be implemented by the three organisations will increase knowledge and data management, enhance cooperation mechanisms between relevant stakeholders and create awareness and coordination for accountability.
“This grant has come at a time when all stakeholders need to have deeper conversations on the impact of migration and border management on the youth of this country. It will give AfDOM the needed push to embark on sensitisation campaigns which will engage and dialogue with the youth in some selected regions of Ghana, to better understand and appreciate their human rights and contribute greatly to closing some knowledge gaps and breaking some myths surrounding regular and irregular migration.” Mr. Aminu Munkaila, the Executive Director of AfDOM said.
"Stakeholder collaboration is imperative to improving border management. It will contribute to addressing some of the challenges in border communities, enhancing dialogue with residents in these communities and ultimately working together to come up with some solutions to aid in counter trafficking in human beings. Receiving this grant is very timely, as it will contribute greatly to boosting stakeholder engagement and partnerships in the area of border security and migration management, with the overall objective of upholding and respecting the fundamental human rights of residents in our border communities.” - Paul N.K Aborampah Mensah, Programs Manager- CDD Ghana