The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana has called on city authorities to incorporate migration dynamics and climate change considerations into local governance planning to improve urban resilience and ensure better integration of migrants.
The National Project Officer for IOM Ghana, Mr Eric Kwame Akomanyi, said such an approach would enable metropolitan authorities to develop reliable data systems on migrants and better plan for their inclusion in rapidly expanding urban environments.
He made the call at the close of a 24-month project titled “Strengthening the Capacities of the City of Accra to Manage Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change,” implemented by IOM in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
The project focused on strengthening city-level capacity to understand and respond to the link between climate change, human mobility and inclusive urban development.
A key component of the initiative was a pilot intervention at Old Fadama in Accra, where participatory and gender-sensitive approaches were used to address flood risks while promoting livelihood opportunities.
The intervention included the rehabilitation of a 408-metre drainage system, the establishment of a plastic shredding and waste processing hub, and training programmes in entrepreneurship and financial literacy for selected beneficiaries.
Mr Akomanyi noted that many local authorities do not formally account for migrants in their planning processes, despite their active presence in urban communities.
“There are migrants that are coming into the city with limited options in terms of accessing information in the city. They need to identify and recognise them if there are issues around legitimacy and legal identity,” he said.
He further announced the establishment of a Migration Desk at the AMA, designed to serve as a dedicated access point where migrants can obtain information on available services and opportunities within the city.
According to him, the initiative is intended to improve inclusion and ensure that migrants are not excluded from urban development planning and support systems.
The Deputy Head of Waste Management at the AMA, Mr Victor Kottey, also highlighted outcomes of the project, noting that several women, including migrants, had been trained in recycling and waste management-related enterprises.
He said the project had facilitated the creation of a recycling hub and a waste polymerisation facility, which are expected to serve as entry points for migrants seeking low-capital business opportunities.
Mr Kottey explained that such initiatives provide practical livelihood pathways for migrants who often arrive in cities with limited resources, while also contributing to improved waste management in Accra.
The project partners say the outcomes demonstrate how climate resilience, urban planning and migration management can be integrated to create more inclusive and sustainable cities.
