City authorities have been urged to incorporate migration and climate change considerations into local development planning to improve urban governance and strengthen resilience.
Mr Eric Kwame Akomanyi, National Project Officer of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ghana, said such an approach would enable metropolitan authorities to develop accurate databases on migrants and better plan for their integration as climate change and urban migration continue to reshape cities.
He made the call at the close of a 24-month IOM project titled “Strengthening the Capacities of the City of Accra to Manage Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change.”
The project, implemented in partnership with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), sought to enhance city-level understanding, planning and action on the links between climate change, human mobility and inclusive urban resilience.
One of the key outcomes of the project was the implementation of a gender-sensitive pilot initiative in Old Fadama, which combined flood risk reduction with waste-to-livelihood interventions.
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The initiative involved the rehabilitation of a 408-metre drainage system, the establishment of a plastic shredding and waste recycling hub, and entrepreneurship and financial literacy training for selected beneficiaries.
Mr Akomanyi said many local authorities failed to include migrants in their development plans despite their significant presence and contribution to local economies.
He noted that many migrants arrived in cities with limited access to information and support services, making it important for authorities to recognise them and address issues relating to legal identity and access to opportunities.
As part of the project, he said, a Migration Desk had been established at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to provide migrants with information on available services and opportunities within the city.
Mr Victor Kottey, Deputy Head of Waste Management at the AMA, said the project had equipped women, including migrants, with skills in recycling and waste polymerisation to promote sustainable livelihoods.
He said a waste polymerisation and recycling hub had also been established to train more migrants in converting waste into business opportunities.
Mr Kottey said the initiative provided an accessible source of income for migrants, particularly those with limited financial resources, because the businesses required relatively low start-up capital.
