Social exclusion has been one of the issues plaguing not only the economic landscape but also the political landscape. There is always the fear that certain classes or categories of the citizenry would be tactically or intendedly disenfranchised by a State institution and/or by certain individuals if not willfully.

To address this issue, a joint programme which was attended by some persons belonging to the FAITH in Ghana Alliance, Diocesan Development Officers (DDOs), staff of Caritas Ghana, and some staff of the National Catholic Secretariat, was held at the National Catholic Secretariat at Shiashie, a suburb of Accra, on the 25th of April, 2023, under the lead of Caritas Ghana.

The programme was facilitated by Dr. Joseph Taabazuing, a retired lecturer of GIMPA, as well as a former staff of the National Catholic Secretariat. He walked the participants through what is required of all the faith groups in Ghana to appreciate and do in order to avert electioneering violence exclusion. He urged that the faith groups must advocate for the inclusion of all people of concern, thus eligible voters, without intentionally excluding them from exercising their legitimate right of voting. Again, he engaged participants to reflect on the need for faith-based organizations to work together towards inclusive, credible and peaceful elections based on their respective spirituality or belief system.

Participants expressed appreciation for this awareness, and as always, expressed the commitment to publicly create awareness when they got back to their respective communities and dioceses.

This joint programme development with other faith groups on election was sponsored by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Secours Catholique-Caritas France (SCCF), Cáritas Española and accompanied by Caritas Africa, the regional partner. The programme forms part of a larger one dubbed “APPROCHE” – Accompagnement Personnalise de Proximite pour le Renforcement Organisationnel, le Changement et l’Engagement (in English: “Personalized Proximity Accompaniment for the Organizational Strengthening, Change and Commitment”), being implemented in seventeen (17) African countries. The local focal point or person for Caritas Ghana is Esther Williams. Thanks to her efforts to have this programme implemented and also, thanks to the Accompaniment Team of Caritas Africa. To our sponsors: AFD, SCCF and Cáritas Española, Caritas Ghana is saying, “Dieu vous benisse richement. Gracias!”

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.

Cross-border migration is a human reality, incidence, and phenomenon which is inevitable. Some migrate either for economic, climatic, or political reasons. It can also be out of peer and family pressures, or for other reasons best known to the migrant. Despite the good reason a migrant might have, that instance he/she attempts to cross the boundary of his/her country of origin to another without the requisite documents exposes him/her to scrutiny, and if he/she is found wanting, the authorities then repatriate the person in question. Very often, this decision is taken with a pinch of salt.

It is in this light that Caritas Ghana, with sponsorship from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), went on a sensitization and community engagement tour in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana, from the 27th of March to the 31st of March, 2023. This tour forms part of the Strengthening Actions for Enabling Border Security for Human Mobility Project being funded by the European Union.

Basically, this sensitization and community engagement was done through radio presentations and discussions. 
1. Upper East Region: 27th – 28th March, 2023 – NABIINA FM at Paga
2. Upper West Region: 30th – 31st March, 2023 – Nandom FM at Nandom

At Paga, the presentation and discussions were facilitated by the Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service, DSI Martin Soyeh, in the Frafra dialect. He was assisted by Mr. Luqman Tuferu, a returned migrant from Spain (aka. returnee). At Nandom, it was facilitated by the Commander of the Nandom Command, Mr. Mohammed Razak, in the Dagare dialect. He was assisted by a junior officer, Ms. Anita Kantapir, and a returnee from Germany, Mr. Abdulai Seidu. With both events, the communities participated through phone-ins.

The main objectives of the radio programs were to sensitize the target communities about the dangers of irregular migration, the laws regarding migration in general, and to educate the public on the difference between smuggling and trafficking, and their types or forms. The radio was used in order to reach out to many people as possible. It served as a platform for listeners to also share their experiences, and an opportunity for Caritas Ghana, through its Research Officer, who led the tour, to share the role of Caritas Ghana and other CSOs to effectively and humanely manage irregular migration and support returnees.

In all, based on the feedback from the call-ins, the program ended up being informative, educative, and interesting, especially with the presence of returned migrants and their stories about their journey through the desert to Europe.