The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with key ministries and international partners, will host a three-day national workshop in Tema to harmonize labour migration statistics and definitions. The initiative seeks to close long-standing gaps in the collection and use of data critical to policy, planning, and international reporting.
Labour migration contributes significantly to Ghana’s economy through remittances, skills transfer, and job creation. Yet, inconsistencies in definitions and methodologies among data producers undermine policymaking and limit Ghana’s ability to meet global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Compact for Migration, and the African Union Labour Migration Strategy.
The workshop, supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), GIZ, and other partners, will bring together government agencies, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Stakeholders will review existing frameworks, identify gaps, and agree on harmonized national definitions and indicators for migration and recruitment costs.
Expected outcomes include a validated set of standardized national definitions, a harmonization framework to guide data producers, and a roadmap for integrating new standards into national surveys, censuses, and administrative records. The workshop also aims to strengthen coordination between institutions such as the Ministry of Labour, Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Trade Union Congress.
By aligning with international standards and improving the quality of data, Ghana hopes to strengthen evidence-based policymaking, improve reporting on migration flows and remittances, and enhance its capacity to leverage migration for sustainable development.
