The Deputy Minister for Employment and Labor Relations, Hon. Bright Wereko Brobbey has exposed that the "major driving factor to irregular migration or travelling abroad without proper documentation is unemployment".

He addressed at the Kumasi’s Edition of the Ghana Job Fair 2019 that the Greater Accra, Ashanti and the former Brong Ahafo Region are among the main sources of irregular migration hence the need to put up schedules to further the job –matching functions of the Labor Department.

“The Ministry has been working assiduously to ensure that the right conditions are created to facilitate the placement of job seekers. Over the last three years, the Ministry has been implementing different strategies towards the creation of decent jobs for all. This is been done under the guidance of the National Employment Policy and the Coordinated Programme for Social and Economic Development Policies (2017-2924),” he said.

The Ghanaian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (GGC) under the Programme for Migration and Development (PMD) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in partnership with the Ministry for Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK), the Manhyia Palace and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) organized the Ghana Job Fair – Kumasi Edition on November 27th, 2019 at the Golden Bean Hotel to give advice on matters regarding upgrading one’s career in Germany, study scholarship options and research opportunities in Germany.

According to Hon. Bright Wereko Brobbey, the German Development Agency (GIZ) has shown a lot of goodwill in the management of issues relating to irregular migration through supporting the Ministry to construct an ultra-modern Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration in Accra. He divulged that the facility would enable the Ministry through the Labour Department to provide tailored services to those seeking to migrate out of the country as well as returnees searching for opportunities to settle in Ghana.

“Knowing that unemployment is a key causative factor of irregular migration, the Centre has also prioritized employment promotion, entrepreneurial development and support for startups to assist potential labour migrants returnees.

"The Job Fairs are for those seeking employment and employers wishing to recruit workers. We believe that when we are able to assist job seekers, particularly the youth, to find sustainable and decent job opportunities, they would not be interested in risking their lives to embark on irregular migration,” he added.

The Minister further expressed that the Kumasi Edition of the Job Fair would enable the Ministry for Employment and Labor Relations to cater for job seekers in the Region and achieve its aim of facilitating employment and persuading potential labor migrants to engage in productive economic activities.

Nana Owusu Diako II, the Bomso-hene (Chief of Bomso) and a representative of her Royal Highness, Lady Julia Osei Tutu themed the program as a unified platform that will help the young entrepreneurs absorb the experiences of the industry players and serve as an empowerment to job seekers.

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Speaking on behalf of the first Lady, Nana Diako II addressed that unemployment is a common issue to the King of Asante, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II therefore given entrepreneurs the needed support will repel the economy to a higher height. He braced the idea of leveraging the potential of the youth for the development of the Region and the country as a whole.

He explained that various Youth Development projects such as the Youth Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development initiative for Employment under the Otumfuo Charity Foundation has contributed immensely to Youth Development and Employment in the Asante Kingdom yet a lot needs to be done.

Nana applauded the organizers of the program’s timing and assured them of the support of Manhyia. Her Royal Highness in the speech urged the coordinators to make the Job Fair an annual project in the Asante Kingdom to guide the youth in issues pertaining to employment.

The Senior National Program Coordinator (GIZ), Mr. Thomas Yawo-Mensah in a press briefing spoke that, the Ghanaian-German Centre in collaboration with the Ministry are working together to provide the Public Employment Centers network service that will enable job seeking easier in the country to curb irregular migration.

“There are Greener pastures in Ghana therefore let us exploit them before we travel outside to look for pastures that are not green,” he ended.