In his speech on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2014, Pope Francis remarked, “Migrants and refugees do not only represent a problem to be solved, but are brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved.” In another vein, he remarked: “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity.”
These thoughts of Pope Francis behoove every person, government, civil society and faith-based organizations, and corporate bodies to take interest in issues of migration and refugees. Mandel Bruce Patinkin, an American actor and singer, stated: “Refugees come to us seeking asylum, seeking freedom, justice and dignity – seeking a chance just to breathe.” Should we close our doors and don’t let them in?
We cannot close our doors to them; hence, the launch of a support service for migrants, returnees, and refugees in transit project. Aided by the Dicastery for Migrants and Refugees at the Vatican, Rome, Caritas Ghana seeks to provide responsive humanitarian assistance and reintegration support for returned migrants and refugees in Ghana, and to curtail the menace of irregular migration from Ghana into the West.
The targeted regions to benefit from this project include Bono East, Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West, Greater Accra, Western, Northern, Volta, and Oti.
At the launch of the project at the National Catholic Secretariat Conference Hall on the 13th of April, 2023, Mr. Mario Almeida of the Africa Coordination, Listening and Dialogue Section of the Dicastery for Promoting of Integral Human Development in the Vatican spoke and hailed the initiative of Caritas Ghana. He also did a presentation on the mission
and activities of the Dicastery, thus to promote integral human development, ensuring that no one is left behind; to listen, dialogue and reflect, discern, propose and support effective responses aimed at integral human development. The Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (GIS), Mr. Isaac Ghansah, also lauded Caritas Ghana, and as always assured Caritas of their collaboration and support.
The launch was actually done by Rev. Sr. Regina Aflah, the Project Coordinator. In her speech, she reiterated the strategic objectives of the SMART Project, and appealed for stakeholder support to enable Caritas Ghana to realize its strategic objectives which are in consonance with the Sustainable Development Goals Nos. 1, 8, and 17.
In her closing remarks, the Chairperson for the occasion, Lawyer Mrs. Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee, did affirm that voluntary and forced migrants such as refugees have various needs but little access to having those needs met. She also emphasized the importance of reintegration in dealing with returned migrants, since that has been the bane of those who want to return home, thus to Ghana. She praised Caritas Ghana’s leadership team and staff for their commitment to serving the vulnerable.
Caritas Ghana is grateful to the Rev. Fr. Fabio Baggio for facilitating the funding of the project,
the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the International Organization for Migration, UNHCR, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Office of the National Chief Imam, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission of Ghana, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas Ghana’s Board of Directors, the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Ghana (FOMWAG), the National Catholic Secretariat and the Diocesan Development Officers (DDOs), as well as the project’s Administrative Team (Caritas Ghana) for their respective contribution towards the official launch of the SMART for Inclusive Development Project.
