COLLOQUIUM OF THE

DIASPORA

ENGAGEMENT

PROJECT

RETURN AND

REINTEGRATION:

OPPORTUNITIES AND

CHALLENGES

IN GHANA.

22 – 24 AUGUST, 2012

“Linking The Ghanaian Diaspora To The

Development Of Ghana”

PRESENTED BY:

REV. FRANK PEPRAH TWUMASI

CEO,SCHOLARS IN TRANSIT NKORANZA – B/A

GHANA

E-MAIL:

rev.scholarsintransit@yahoo.com

TEL: +233(0)243822436

OUR OBJECTIVES

•Conduct Research on pertinent social issues.

•Organize Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking Campaigns

•Educate potential migrants and the general public on the risks involved in irregular migration and provide counsel and advice;

•Provide and disseminate relevant information on migration and migration related issues;

• Encourage and facilitate the formation of Migrant Associations for feasible, organized working relationship with migrants and potential migrants.

HOW CAN I STAY? • Pressure from Peers and family members are

too strong to bear. • Unpredictable weather pattern makes

farming unattractive . EXPENDITURE INCURRED FOR CULTIVATING 2 ACRES OF MAIZE

-Land - GHC 80 -Clearing of land - “ 140 -Tractor Services - “ 80 -Sowing of seeds - “ 80 -Application of 6 bags Fertilizer - “ 220 -Harvesting/gathering of produce - “ 70 -Carting of produce - “ 60 -Sheathing and threshing - “ 110 TOTAL - GHC 840

REINTEGRATION CHALLENGES

•Families sometimes offer support to facilitate trip by providing cash or agree to sell some family property. Return Migrants who do not return with anything substantive are seen as liabilities.

•Migrants who plaster buildings (Malaga) start as apprentice and with time graduate to win their own plastering contracts.

•Some Migrants who worked with Multi-national and Public Companies did not take their salaries before being evacuated and are tempted to go back for it.

RETURN TO WHAT?

• Institutions hardly work, an individual can frustrate a whole process.

• Very cumbersome bureaucratic disposition.

• High taxes and complicated clearing of goods processes.

.

IOM/UNDP REINTEGRATION SUPPORT PROGRAM

• IOM/UNDP Reintegration Support Program is very helpful and must be stretched to reach many.

RECOMMENDATION

•Formulation of National Migration Policy must be expedited.

• Waiver duty payments on particular goods and machinery and reduce frustrating bureaucratic processes at Ports and Harbors.

•Entrepreneurs who return to establish businesses in deprived areas must be given impressive incentives.

•The formation of a National Association for Migrants in Ghana can lead to an effective Diasporean network and partnership.

•IOM Reintegration support program must cover Migrants who intend to go to school.