In Dialogue with Ghana, Experts of the Committee on Migrant Workers Commend the Visa-Free Policy for African Nationals, Ask about Measures to Strengthen Ties with the Diaspora and the Deportee Reception Agreement with the United States
The Committee on Migrant Workers today concluded its consideration of the second periodic report of Ghana on how it implements the provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Committee Experts commended the State’s visa-free policy for all African nationals entering Ghana, and asked questions on measures to strengthen ties with the Ghanaian diaspora and the agreement on reception of West African nationals expelled from the United States.
Sabrina Gahar, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed that in May 2026, Ghana implemented a visa-free policy for all African nationals. She also commended the establishment of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration in 2023, describing it as an important step towards promoting a whole-of-Government approach to migration management.
Can Ünver, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said Ghana lost many valuable, highly skilled workers who left the country to work elsewhere. What measures were in place to encourage the Ghanaian diaspora to contribute to the country, including through skill-sharing and knowledge transfer measures?
One Committee Expert asked about the 2025 migration agreement between Ghana and the United States, which sought to facilitate the return of West African nationals who had been expelled from the United States. This agreement exposed migrant workers to inhumane treatment, including collective expulsion and arbitrary detention. How did Ghana manage the stay of West African nationals received under this agreement?
Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment of Ghana and head of the delegation, said that Ghana remained firmly committed to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration, while protecting the rights and dignity of migrant workers and members of their families. Since the consideration of its initial report in 2014, Ghana had undertaken significant reforms to strengthen migration governance. Key milestones included the implementation of the national migration and the national labour migration policies, which provided strategic frameworks for managing migration in a manner that promoted development while safeguarding human rights.
The delegation said the State party kept a database in its overseas missions to identify the skills that the diaspora had and was working to recruit people with sought-after skills to work in Ghana. The Central Bank had also implemented a “remit to invest” campaign that encouraged the diaspora to invest in the State. Ghana provided reintegration packages that supported returnee Ghanaians to find jobs, seek livelihoods, and transfer their skills to their community.
Any engagement with foreign States was undertaken in accordance with Ghanaian law, including constitutional arrangements, the delegation said. The agreement with the United States was currently being assessed by the Supreme Court. The delegation could not comment on the agreement while awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on it. Ghana was committed to complying fully with all orders issued by the Court.
In concluding remarks, Ms. Gahar said the Committee recognised significant efforts by the State party to strengthen migration governance and improve the protection of migrant workers and their families. She said continued efforts were needed, however, to strengthen the implementation of the Convention and ensure that migration policies and practices remained firmly grounded in human rights.
Mr. Pelpuo, in concluding remarks, said Ghana remained committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families. The State would continue to work with the Committee to advance migration governance that was humane, rights-based, development-oriented, and responsive to modern realities.
Prasad Kariyawasam, Committee Chair, in his concluding remarks, thanked Ghana for its participation in the dialogue, which had demonstrated the common objective of the State party and the Committee to further promote and consolidate the rights of migrant workers on the ground.
The delegation of Ghana was made up of representatives of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment; Ghana Refugee Board; Bank of Ghana; and the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee on Migrant Workers’ forty-second session is being held from 28 May to 12 June. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. Webcasts of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Thursday, 4 June, to consider the initial report of the Gambia (CMW/C/GMB/1).
Report
The Committee has before it the second periodic report of Ghana (CMW/C/GHA/2).
Presentation of the Report
ABDUL-RASHID PELPUO, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment of Ghana and head of the delegation, said that, as a country of origin, transit and destination, Ghana remained firmly committed to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration, while protecting the rights and dignity of migrant workers and members of their families. Since the consideration of its initial report in 2014, Ghana had undertaken significant reforms to strengthen migration governance. Key milestones included the implementation of the national migration and the national labour migration policies, which provided strategic frameworks for managing migration in a manner that promoted development while safeguarding human rights.
Ghana had also strengthened institutional coordination among key stakeholders, enhanced labour migration governance mechanisms, expanded bilateral engagement with destination countries, and intensified efforts to combat trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, and labour exploitation. In addition, the State continued to promote ethical recruitment practices, improve access to information for prospective migrant workers, strengthen public employment services, and enhance access to justice through national institutions.
Ghana’s efforts were guided by regional and international commitments, including the Economic Community of West African States’ Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the African Union Migration Policy Framework for Africa, and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
While progress had been made, Ghana recognised that important challenges remained. Irregular migration continued to expose migrants to exploitation and abuse. The State also faced challenges relating to migration data management, enforcement capacity, evolving migration trends, and ensuring adequate protection for migrants in vulnerable situations. Addressing these required sustained national effort, stronger international cooperation, and continued partnership among countries of origin, transit and destination.
For this reason, Ghana approached the review with openness and a genuine commitment to continuous improvement. The State viewed the process as an opportunity to learn from the Committee's expertise, share experiences, and further strengthen migration governance systems. Ghana remained committed to working collaboratively with the Committee, Member States, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, relevant institutions, and migrant communities to advance migration governance that was humane, rights-based and development-oriented.
Questions by Committee Experts
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said Ghana was one of Africa’s long-standing success stories. The Committee acknowledged Ghana’s commitment to the rule of law, constitutional governance, and political stability. Ghana had established itself as a regional leader and active contributor to peace, cooperation and integration within West Africa. It had obtained lower-middle income status in 2010 and achieved significant progress in reducing poverty and advancing development. The country’s vibrant culture, youthful population, and entrepreneurial spirit continued to provide a strong foundation for economic and social progress.
The Committee commended the State’s efforts to strengthen domestic resources and improve public revenue. It noted, however, the challenges facing the Ghanaian economy, including its continued dependence on commodity exports, vulnerability to external shocks, growing public debt, and the adverse effects of climate change. The Committee noted the State’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, promote decent work opportunities, and address social and regional inequalities. Ghana had an influential role within the African Union and had a long-standing commitment to regional integration.
The Committee noted with appreciation the announcement that on 25 May 2026, Ghana had implemented a visa-free policy for all African nationals through an electronic visa system. It also welcomed important legislative, policy and institutional measures undertaken by the State party, including the national labour migration policy, the labour regulation policy, the national action plan on the elimination of trafficking in persons, the national action plan on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, and the establishment of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration in 2023, an important step towards promoting a whole-of-Government approach to migration management. What was the mandate of the Mechanism and what resources were available to it to address migration issues?
Why had the submission of the State’s periodic report, which was due in 2019, been delayed? The Committee welcomed efforts undertaken by the State party to promote fair recruitment practices and improve labour migration systems. The State’s labour migration strategy and action plan of 2025 sought to protect the rights of migrant workers. What measures were in place to implement this strategy and align it with the objectives of the Economic Community of West African States’ labour migration strategy? How was the State enhancing fair and effective recruitment practices and working to integrate labour migration into national development planning, promoting gender responsive and child-oriented migration governance? How would the State party maximise benefits for migrant workers and members of their families?
The Committee remained concerned that migration-related legislation was fragmented across different legal instruments. What obstacles prevented the establishment of a comprehensive rights-based migration law fully incorporating all provisions of the Convention? What budgetary resources were allocated to the implementation of migration policies and how was their impact monitored? What results had been achieved to date, what challenges had been encountered, and what objectives did the State party have for future actions?
CAN ÜNVER, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said Ghana had adopted a number of laws and policies related to migration governance. The Committee welcomed that Ghana had implemented legislation to promote compliance with the Convention, including the 1992 Constitution, which included principles of equality and non-discrimination, and migration legislation such as the immigration service act 2016. Ghana had also developed policies aimed at protecting migrant workers, facilitating return migration, and engaging Ghanaian diaspora.
However, the enforcement of migrant worker protections remained inconsistent. Migrant workers often faced barriers in accessing justice, including a lack of information, legal costs, delays and weak enforcement mechanisms. Trafficking in persons, irregular migration, and exploitation of migrant workers continued to be significant concerns. Migrant workers often struggled to use mechanisms established for them due to limited awareness of their rights. Migrant women faced additional stigma, reduced mobility, and vulnerability to abuse.
Ghana lost many valuable, highly skilled workers who left the country to work elsewhere. What measures were in place to address this important issue? How was the State party working to better protect Ghanaian domestic workers in the Middle East, who faced heightened vulnerability and were often unable to protect their own rights?
Another Committee Expert said the State’s migration policies showed a readiness to take action, but these needed to be properly implemented. What actions had been taken to implement these policies? How was the State party harmonising national legislation with the Convention? What anti-discrimination policies had been adopted? Was there legislation that promoted gender equality? What measures were in place to better protect women migrants inside Ghana and Ghanaian women abroad? What family reunification and other measures were in place to protect migrant children? What measures were in place to implement the national action plans on trafficking in persons and on child labour, and what results had been achieved by these plans? How did the State promote access to justice for migrants and provide diplomatic support for Ghanaian migrants abroad?
One Committee Expert asked about the 2025 migration agreement between Ghana and the United States, which sought to facilitate the return of West African nationals who had been expelled from the United States. This agreement exposed migrant workers to inhumane treatment, including collective expulsion and arbitrary detention, practices prohibited under the Convention. How many people had Ghana received since this agreement was signed? How did Ghana manage the stay of West African nationals received under this agreement? Were they systematically sent to their countries of origin or were they allowed to settle in Ghana? Had the State encountered difficulties in the implementation of this policy? What countries were these nationals from and what services were they provided with?
A Committee Expert called for detailed information on disciplinary mechanisms in place for persons found guilty of corruption and protection measures for whistle-blowers. How many people had been prosecuted for acts of corruption related to migration?
Another Committee Expert asked about the status of the children of migrants who were born in Ghana. What measures were in place to encourage the Ghanaian diaspora to contribute to the country, including through skill-sharing and knowledge transfer measures? Was the Ghanaian National Human Rights Commission still active?
One Committee Expert asked how many overseas consular offices Ghana had. In how many countries did Ghanaian nationals live? Did consular services provide the right of Ghanaians to participate in elections abroad?
A Committee Expert asked how Ghana managed its migration statistics. Did it collect data on the number of irregular and regular migrants coming into and leaving the country?
Another Committee Expert said that last week, a group of Ghanaians were evacuated from South Africa due to xenophobic tensions. The State received thousands of deportees from European countries, North Africa and elsewhere. What happened to the resources of deportees? Were there bilateral agreements which guaranteed the exportability of their social rights and the transfer of their personal effects? How were they assisted to reintegrate in Ghana?
One Committee Expert asked how many labour permits the State party had issued to migrant workers over the last five years? Could statistics be provided on labour inspections implemented over the last five years?
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Chair, asked how the Government was implementing facilities and financial incentives that encouraged skilled professionals who left Ghana to keep their link with the country. Ghana’s agricultural sector was not well-regulated, which could lead to the infringement of the rights of migrant workers employed informally in this sector. How was the State party addressing this?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that all Ghanaian embassies abroad provided consular services. There were 62 Ghanaian embassies and high commissions around the world and 59 honorary consulates and consulate generals. These missions had an average of five staff each. All diplomatic staff were trained to provide consular services abroad, including prison visits. The State party kept a database in all these missions to identify the skills that the diaspora had and was working to recruit people with sought-after skills to work in Ghana. This was part of the State’s diaspora engagement policy, which helped the Government to bring together the contributions of the diaspora. There was a diaspora engagement officer in almost all overseas missions. Diaspora members were encouraged to contribute to healthcare, education and other sectors in Ghana.
Ghana’s report was submitted late due to institutional, administrative and technical challenges. The report was drafted through consultation with various State institutions, which was time-consuming. Limited national resources and competing priorities, as well as fragmented data collection systems, also posed difficulties. Ghana was taking measures to strengthen inter-agency coordination to facilitate more timely submission in the future.
The State party was working to put together a national remittance strategy and the Central Bank had a robust system for tracking remittances. It had implemented a “remit to invest” campaign that encouraged the diaspora to invest in the State through platforms that generated value for investors. The State was also making it easier for the diaspora to open bank accounts abroad.
The State party had set up a National Coordination Mechanism on Migration, which was mandated to strengthen the coherence of migration governance and coordinate implementation of the Global Compact for Migration. It was made up of representatives from various Government ministries and agencies, as well as international institutions such as the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration. The Mechanism met at least twice monthly, and had thematic groups working on diaspora engagement, labour migration, data management, border management, migrants’ rights, remittances, and cost-cutting issues. The Mechanism had several monitoring measures to assess the implementation of migration policies.
Ghana had ratified International Labour Organization Convention 138 on the minimum age for workers and Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour. Under the national action plan on child labour, the State had developed a draft law that regulated the jobs that children could and could not do; this was now before Parliament. There was a national monitoring system that tracked children at risk of child labour and children in child labour. Through this system, the State party was able to refer child workers to appropriate remediation services. The national action plan included monitoring measures to track the implementation of relevant policies.
Immigration detention in Ghana was governed by the immigration act. Detention was not automatic. Immigration officers could only exercise powers conferred by the law, and such actions remained subject to Constitutional safeguards. The Government continued to explore alternatives to detention and strengthen administrative procedures aimed at minimising the duration of immigration-related custody.
Any engagement with foreign States was undertaken in accordance with Ghanaian law, including constitutional arrangements. The agreement with the United States was currently being assessed by the Supreme Court. The delegation could not comment on the agreement while awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on it. Ghana was committed to complying fully with all orders issued by the Court.
Migrant workers and their families could bring cases of discrimination to courts in Ghana. However, cross-border work posed challenges, limiting the ability of domestic courts to impose remedies on foreign employers. Ghana was committed to strengthening cross-border enforcement mechanisms, improving regulation of recruitment chains, and expanding legal aid and consular support for its diaspora.
The 300 Ghanaians who were expelled from South Africa last week were found to have legitimate documents and should not have been expelled in the way that they were, after hooligans had beaten them. The State party was in line to receive 900 more Ghanaians if the South African Government gave them permission to leave. Ghana would not allow its citizens who were legitimately staying in another country to be beaten or treated unfairly. The State party did not currently have statistics on Ghanaian migrant workers who had been mistreated abroad but would work to collect such statistics.
Migrants in Ghana had access to justice and the right to equal treatment in employment. The affirmative action act of 2024 included measures promoting gender parity in employment. By 2026, the State expected at least 30 per cent of decision-making roles in the State to be held by women, and 50 per cent of such roles to be held by women by 2034.
The State party conducted around 2,234 labour inspections in 2025. Some 9,600 Ghanaians were currently working abroad. The main destination countries for Ghanaians were the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Barbados. Ghana hosted over 400,000 migrant workers, including around 100,000 Togolese citizens and around 80,000 Nigerian citizens. Around 39 per cent of migrant workers worked in the agricultural sector, 20 per cent in the services sector, and 33 per cent in formal public and private sectors. Around half of all migrant workers were self-employed.
Ghana had laws that prohibited bribery, abuse of office, and exploitation of migrants. Allegations of corruption or misconduct by officers could be reported to internal discipline channels. The Ghana Immigration Service had a code of conduct for its officers, and officers suspected of corruption were referred to the Service’s disciplinary committee. Suspected victims of discrimination were informed of their rights and provided with information on complaints mechanisms. Whistle-blowers were protected under State law, which prevented their identify from being disclosed. When monies were retrieved in corruption cases, the whistle-blower was compensated with 10 per cent of the amount of money involved.
After contracts expired, migrant workers could apply to renew them or were compelled, but not forced, to return to their home country. Even if they had overstayed their contract period, migrants could seek different jobs from different employers in Ghana within a period of five to seven years.
With the support of development partners, Ghana provided reintegration packages that supported returnee Ghanaians to find jobs, seek livelihoods, and transfer their skills to their community.
Questions by Committee Experts
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, commended efforts undertaken by Ghana to strengthen data collection on migrant workers and their families. She called for further information on the methodology used for the collection of migration data. Was there a centralised migration database that consolidated data from the various institutions involved in migration governance, including consular missions abroad? What measures were in place to ensure the confidentiality of migrants’ personal data?
Ms. Gahar welcomed the State’s efforts to combat child trafficking, child labour, and other forms of child exploitation, including the national action plan against child labour and various child protection programmes and projects addressing child poverty, school dropout, and unsafe migration. Child sexual exploitation remained a significant concern, particularly for vulnerable migrant children. How did the State’s measures address the risks of trafficking and sexual exploitation faced by child migrants? What monitoring mechanism was in place for such offences and how many people had been prosecuted? What legal aid, child-friendly justice mechanisms, psychological support, and social reintegration services and remedies were available for child victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other forms of abuse? What resources were allocated to victim support programmes and how did social welfare institutions coordinate their efforts?
CAN ÜNVER, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed steps taken by the Government to protect Ghanaian citizens abroad. Could more detailed information be provided on these measures? How was the State protecting the rights of the third-country nationals deported to Ghana within the context of the agreement with the United States?
Another Committee Expert asked questions on whether Ghana had a mechanism for preparing reports for human rights treaty bodies or was considering establishing such a mechanism; the geographic distribution of labour inspections and measures ensuring the financial and operational independence of inspectors; whether Ghana planned to ratify and implement International Labour Organization Conventions 87, 122, 143, 155 and 190, and the protocol to Convention 81; and whether migrant workers in Ghana could create their own trade unions or belong to trade unions.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that in 2020, Ghana developed its current national migration policy, which was being implemented across various sectors. The State was currently reviewing its migration and labour migration policies and was working to mainstream these policies in national development plans. Ghana was also developing a centralised database on migration, which would integrate data on migrants from the labour market information system, administrative records, the immigration service, consular and diaspora data, the refugee board, the police anti-trafficking unit, and the census.
Ghana was highly interested in promoting civil society participation and the Government’s efforts had always been complemented by civil society organizations.
Ghana had implemented several robust policies and programmes to address the issues of child labour and human trafficking. It had established “child labour free zones”, implemented programmes that supported the reintegration and rehabilitation of returning children and victims of trafficking in persons, passed the human trafficking prohibition regulation in 2015, and developed a training manual on child-friendly victim care. The State had an information management system that collected data on child protection and child sexual abuse cases, child-friendly courts, and hotlines and offices where children could report abuse and receive trauma-informed care. The free school lunch programme helped to ensure that children remained in school, reducing the risk of child trafficking. Last year, 58 cases involving trafficking in persons were prosecuted.
Ghana promoted fair and ethical recruitment through legal regulations, institutional oversight, and international cooperation. The Labour Department had developed regulatory measures, including licencing requirements; a standard operating procedure for private employment agencies; a strategy and action plan on promoting fair recruitment; and guidelines on fair recruitment practices. It was also working to prohibit recruitment fees.
The State party had signed agreements on labour mobility with various States, including Qatar, Germany, Mauritius, Barbados and Grenada. These agreements ensured that workers moving out of Ghana were treated fairly and could return to Ghana of their own free will. Consulates and missions monitored the activities of Ghanaian migrant workers overseas to ensure their safety.
Ghana had taken steps to ratify fundamental International Labour Organization conventions but could not ratify conventions when partners did not agree with their provisions, as the International Labour Organization was a tripartite organization. The State party had, however, taken steps to ratify Conventions 190 on workplace harassment and 155 on occupational health and safety, which informed the Government’s forthcoming operational safety and health bill. The Government would continue to review the conventions that it had not ratified and was guided by these documents when developing labour policies and laws. For example, the Government had worked to domesticate Convention 189 on domestic worker through its domestic labour regulations.
Under the labour act, which ensured the right to freedom of association, migrant workers were allowed to form or join trade unions of their choice and benefit from collective bargaining arrangements. Trade unions represented migrant workers across a range of sectors, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, mining, transport and services sectors.
The Legal Aid Commission, established in 2018, provided free legal representation, legal advice, mediation, dispute resolution and paralegal services for vulnerable persons, including eligible migrant workers and their families. In 2023, the Commission received 4,500 cases involving 3,000 persons, of which 4,260 were resolved. Ghana had also established a range of other victim protection and social welfare services that supported migrant workers’ access to justice.
Ghana had established a national mechanism for reporting and follow-up to international human rights mechanisms and was working to streamline reporting into the regular work programmes of relevant institutions to ensure that reporting obligations were addressed on an ongoing basis.
Around 90 per cent of workers in Ghana were working in the informal sector, and a similar proportion of migrant workers were working in the informal sector. The Government was taking steps to promote formalisation and working to develop incentives for employers and employees to formalise their practices.
The Government recognised the importance of implementing overseas voting, but this process involved complex legal, operational and technical considerations and financial resources. The State was engaging in consultations to ensure that future overseas voting systems would be credible, secure, transparent and accessible.
Questions by Committee Experts
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed efforts undertaken to strengthen the capacity of labour inspectors, border officials, members of the judiciary, and other officials involved in migration governance. What was the practical impact of training for these officials on the rights of migrant workers and their families? Did training address the protection of vulnerable migrants? What measures were in place to ensure that migrant workers and their families were adequately informed of their rights at all stages of migration? What awareness raising campaigns on migrant workers’ rights were in place and was such information produced in various languages?
The Committee welcomed efforts to promote collaboration with civil society in the field of migration governance, including the roundtable on the role of civil society organizations in border security management and the Ghana integrity initiative. Were civil society organizations involved in the drafting of the State report? Were civil society organizations included in the Coordination Commission on Migration? How was the State strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations working in the field of migration and trafficking in persons?
What criteria were used for granting residence permits and naturalisation to foreign citizens, and what were the average processing times for citizenship applications? What measures ensured the transparency of these proceedings? How many citizenship applications had been received over the reporting period? Were residence permits granted to the spouses, partners and dependent children of migrant workers?
What allegations had been raised before the Supreme Court related to the agreement with the United States regarding the transfer of third-country nationals from the West African region? Had this agreement been approved by Parliament? What safeguards were put in place to ensure compliance with the principle of non-refoulement? Could information be provided on the profile of returnees and the reintegration programmes available to them? Was individual assessment undertaken prior to the onward transfer or removal of individuals? How was the agreement with the United States reconciled with the principle of free movement, due process guarantees, protection against arbitrary expulsion, and Ghana’s international human rights obligations?
CAN ÜNVER, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked whether the Government intended to take measures to remove barriers for migrant workers, particularly women, in accessing the social protection system. Were there gaps in access to medical care for migrants in rural areas? There were reportedly capacity constraints in civil registration systems that caused problems for migrant children and families. How were these addressed? How was the State party working to include migrant children into the national education system? Were there measures to strengthen the regulation and monitoring of informal recruitment channels to prevent the exploitation of irregular migrant workers?
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Chair, asked whether the State party’s negotiating teams for labour agreements with other countries included experts on migrant workers’ rights. Most female migrant workers from Ghana were working in the Middle East and the Gulf region, mostly in domestic work. Some of these workers were in Lebanon, which was in crisis. What initiatives were in place to protect these workers?
Other Committee Experts asked questions on whether migrant workers’ residency permits expired when their contracts expired; why the State faced problems in ratifying certain International Labour Organization Conventions, considering that domestic legislation largely incorporated the provisions of these Conventions; the number of convictions reached in cases of child trafficking and exploitation; legislative and other measures in place to prevent refoulement; and the number of children of migrant workers who had obtained Ghanaian citizenship.
Experts also asked questions on whether the national human rights institution was working to protect migrant workers, and plans to strengthen the institution in view of recent budget cuts; whether children of any age could be detained by the State; the State’s vision for promoting the regularisation of migrant work; how the State was collaborating with the private sector to ensure that employers followed international standards on migrant workers; measures to promote the employability of young Ghanaians; measures to combat child labour in cocoa plantations in Ghana; and the number of cases of corruption relating to the management of migrant workers.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Ghana had made important progress toward universal health coverage. In 2024, the State launched a non-resident health insurance policy, which covered migrants. Healthcare was free for all registered children below the age of 18 and people aged 70 and above, regardless of migration status.
The Supreme Court case on the agreement with the United States was raised by Democracy Hub, a Ghanaian non-governmental organization. The case challenged the legality of the agreement concerning the reception and temporary detention of deported West Africans in Ghana. The issues being considered included whether the agreement required prior parliamentary approval and whether detention and transfer arrangements violated constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations. Any migration agreement undertaken by the State was expected to comply with constitutional requirements, due process guarantees, and international human rights standards. Cabinet had decided to approve the agreement as it related to allowing deported persons from West Africa to pass through Ghana under existing regulations on freedom of movement. The agreement had been discussed in Parliament.
The Immigration Service had the authority to detain individuals pending deportation or during repatriation. Children could be detained, but there were strict restrictions in place in cases where children were involved and the State respected the principle of the best interests of the child. Children subject to deportation were given access to child-friendly support services.
The Government sought feedback from civil society organizations when devising migration policies and strategies. The Human Trafficking Secretariat and the National Steering Committee on Child Labour involved civil society organizations, which played a critical role in policy development and implementation, training and social dialogue.
Prior to departure, persons planning to work overseas were provided with training on their rights in destination countries. Pre-departure orientation was carried out in migrant workers’ local languages.
Persons could obtain Ghanaian citizenship through birth or descendance, marriage with Ghanaian citizens, or naturalisation. Every child up to 12 months who was born in Ghana could be registered free of charge. After 12 months, births could be registered for a fee. Mobile registration vans toured rural areas to promote access to registration.
Last year, the Labour Inspectorate conducted 2,230 inspections. Children found in cocoa plantations, mining or other sectors were given the support that they required. The Ghana Cocoa Board had developed identifier codes that allowed it to trace farmers and children working in the sector. Using this data, it was assessing the effectiveness of measures to prevent child labour. Recently, the Government had developed the Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System and was working to make it interoperable with the Cocoa Board’s data system. Specific interventions were being implemented that addressed the root causes of child labour and promoted community awareness of child rights. The Ghana Education Service was operating “bridge schools” that supported child workers, including migrants, to access school.
Work permits for migrants were valid for 12 months initially, and for 24 months after renewal. The Ghana Immigration Service did not move to expel migrants from the country after their work permits had expired. It showed these migrants how to regularise their status and acquire work permits.
Ghana criminalised trafficking in persons under the human trafficking act of 2005 and investigations and prosecutions were undertaken before the competent courts. In 2023, 109 trafficking cases were investigated, 47 suspected traffickers were prosecuted, 19 traffickers were convicted, and 944 trafficking victims were formally identified, including 505 children.
Closing Remarks
SABRINA GAHAR, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said migration had long been a part of Ghana’s history and development. The Committee recognised significant efforts by the State party to strengthen migration governance, promote regional integration, and improve the protection of migrant workers and their families. The dialogue had highlighted Ghana’s commitment to addressing complex migration challenges, including related to irregular migration, return and reintegration of migrant workers, and the protection of migrants in vulnerable situations. The Committee was encouraged by Ghana’s commitment to democratic governance, human rights, and regional cooperation. While important progress had been achieved, continued efforts were needed to strengthen the implementation of the Convention and ensure that migration policies and practices remained firmly grounded in human rights.
ABDUL-RASHID PELPUO, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment of Ghana and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the dialogue, which had provided an opportunity to present the progress achieved since the last review and reflect on areas where additional efforts were required to further strengthen migration governance. The delegation had outlined ongoing efforts to combat trafficking in persons and labour exploitation, strengthen access to justice, improve migration data systems, and enhance cooperation among State institutions. It noted the Committee’s concerns regarding data management issues, social protection, detention conditions, anti-discrimination measures, and legal and policy frameworks. Ghana remained committed to addressing gaps and further strengthening efforts to implement the Convention, and to the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families. It would continue to work with the Committee to advance migration governance that was humane, rights-based, development-oriented, and responsive to modern realities.
PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Chair, thanked Ghana for its participation in the dialogue, which had demonstrated the common objective of the State party and the Committee to further promote and consolidate the rights of migrant workers on the ground.
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