The Mayor of Accra, Hon Elizabeth K. T. Sackey has reiterated the city's commitment to fostering a community that understands, appreciates and supports migrants in their pursuit of a better life.

According to her, the city was implementing initiatives aimed at enhancing local policies and programs to support migrants through educational opportunities for their children among others to ensure successful integration into the community.

Mayor Sackey said this on Friday when she joined the International Organization for Migration (IOM), government officials, members of the United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM), youth organizations, and the media to commemorate this year's International Migrants Day (IMD) at Jamestown in Accra. 

The International Migrants Day was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in December 2000 to recognize the important contribution of migrants while highlighting the challenges they face. It aims to celebrate migrants, to advocate for their rights, and to encourage the international community to work together to harness the power of migration.

The Mayor used the opportunity to underscore the contribution of migrants stressing that the city owes much of its vibrancy to the dynamic cultures of individuals who had chosen to make Accra their home.

"We acknowledge migrants as torchbearers of change because they are our greatest asset, and by investing in their skills, we empower them to shape the future of our city, our country, Ghana and, indeed, the world," she said.

She stressed the need to create avenues for education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship, to ensure the youth, including migrants, thrive in the global landscape.

"Migrants, particularly the youth, bring a fresh perspective, innovative ideas, and a determination to succeed against all odds... They are not just recipients of our hospitality but active contributors to our economic, social, and cultural development, " she said. 

She pointed out that fostering an environment that nurtures the skills and talents of migrants would unlock their transformative potential for the city's development. 

The first female Mayor of the City of Accra emphasised that sustainable, dynamic, and harmonious societies could only be achieved by embracing diversity and collaborating with people from different backgrounds.

She asked that the celebration be a wake-up call to renew commitments to creating a city that values and invests in youth skills. 

Mayor Sackey affirmed that the goal of the Assembly was to develop inclusive policies that not only appreciate the contributions of these workers but also address the unique challenges they face.

Fatao Dialo Ndiaye, Chief of Mission International Organization for Migration (IOM), said there were an estimated 281 million International migrants around the world, adding that in Ghana, the World Migration Report 2022, estimates a total migrant population of 467.

She said the 2023 Migrants Day was dedicated to celebrating with Youth and shed light on safe and regular pathways and skills development.

She stressed the NCM's commitment to help coordinate the effective management of migration in Ghana, to ensure migrants, especially the youth were part of the solution and not considered a problem. 

The Head of the Governance sector of the EU Delegation to Ghana, Anna Lixi, said migrants enriched the cultural tapestry of societies and contributed significantly to the social and economic development of nations.

She commended the AMA's Chief Executive for focusing on the meaningful integration of migrants in the city.

Ms Lixi also expressed her appreciation to the long-standing and dedicated donor, the EU, for supporting the country over the years.

As part of activities to mark the day there was a basketball competition among the youth and an interactive, participatory theatre experience on migration-related topics such as safe migration pathways as well as opportunities in Ghana.

The event also featured the sharing of stories from returned migrants, who offered first-hand accounts of their migration experiences and emphasised the importance of safe and regulated migration.