Resetting Local Migration Governance in Ghana: Building Capacity to Integrate Migration Governance into Local Government Planning and Governance Frameworks

Ghana

May 11

Written By Sophie van Haasen

Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs

Minister

Ahmed Ibrahim

Start of Project

01/01/2024

End of Project

Ongoing

Overview

The Ministry of Local Government is committed to embedding migration governance at the local level by strengthening the integration of migration into local government planning and governance processes in Ghana. This action focuses on providing policy guidance, coordination, and technical support to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure that migration, return and reintegration, diaspora engagement, and refugee-related issues are reflected in local development planning in an inclusive and non-displacing manner. This initiative builds on earlier government efforts to mainstream migration through Ghana’s decentralized governance system, particularly by integrating migration into the Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) of MMDAs.

In addition, Ghana is strengthening the link between migration and local development by leveraging remittances, engaging the diaspora, and utilizing the skills of return migrants to promote community development, entrepreneurship, and job creation. These efforts underscore the relevance of the ongoing local migration profiling and foundational diaspora mapping initiative, which aims to advance effective migration mainstreaming at the local level.

The profiling and diaspora mapping exercise will inform the development of a targeted training manual to further build the capacity of local authorities to manage migration-related policies and programmes effectively. It will also enhance evidence-based planning and coordination at the local level.

Expected Impact

The Initiative will strengthen evidence-based local development planning by generating reliable, timely, and disaggregated data on migration and diaspora dynamics. This data will provide local authorities with a solid empirical foundation to understand population mobility patterns, diaspora contributions, and the specific needs of migrants and refugees. Consequently, it will enhance cross-sectoral institutional coordination and foster more inclusive, responsive governance at the sub-national level.

Most importantly, the capacity-building phase following the report’s recommendations will reinforce the systems and structures within Local Assemblies. These enhancements will enable districts to better manage migration and harness its benefits, including diaspora-led development support. Furthermore, these formalized structures will position districts to attract targeted diaspora investment.

This action directly informs policymaking, improves public service delivery, and builds the capacity of local authorities to navigate migration-related challenges while leveraging emerging opportunities.

Outputs, including detailed migration profiles, diaspora engagement strategies, and data dashboards, will support the implementation of the new Sector Medium-Term Development Plans of participating MMDAs. This ensures that migration considerations are systematically integrated into local planning, addressing the unique needs of migrants, refugees, and diaspora communities in a sustainable manner.

Aligned with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) guidelines, the initiative reinforces the integration of migration, diaspora engagement, and remittance flows as essential drivers of sustainable development. It also encourages collaboration with civil society, development partners, and community groups to ensure interventions are participatory and evidence-driven. Ultimately, these actionable insights will contribute to more resilient, adaptive local governance systems that benefit both host communities and mobile populations.

Lessons Learned

Initial findings from the project have provided critical insights for future policy direction. A key positive lesson is the clear correlation between established migrant networks and local development; where platforms exist, diaspora contributions to community infrastructure and social services are evident and impactful. This confirms that there is a high "appetite" for engagement that can be harnessed for national growth.

However, several negative lessons/challenges have emerged:

Structural Gaps: MMDAs currently lack formalized administrative structures to support migrants or respond to migration-related issues systematically.
Coordination Deficit: There is a noticeable absence of dedicated platforms at the local level to coordinate diaspora affairs. This results in diaspora contributions being ad-hoc, uncoordinated, and often bypassing official local government channels.
Resource Constraints: Local Authorities possess very limited technical capacity and financial resources to manage migration governance effectively.

These findings highlight that while the diaspora is willing to contribute, the lack of formalized connecting platforms, including a lack of information on local priorities and ineffective communication channels, remains a significant barrier.

Moving forward, the focus must shift toward institutionalizing these links to ensure diaspora contributions are aligned with District Development Plans for maximum impact.