A growing gap between migration research and real-world policy implementation is weakening efforts to address unsafe migration, stakeholders have warned at a major international conference in Accra.
At the centre of the concern is the call by Samuel Basintale Amadu of the Ghana Immigration Service for more practical, data-driven tools to support frontline officers dealing with complex migration flows.
He noted that while Ghana processes hundreds of thousands of cross-border movements annually, many migrants still resort to dangerous routes, exposing themselves to exploitation and life-threatening risks—particularly along corridors such as the Central Mediterranean.
However, beyond enforcement challenges, participants highlighted a deeper structural issue: the disconnect between academic research and operational needs. Officials say immigration officers often lack access to timely, simplified data that can guide decision-making in real-time situations.
The conference, hosted by the Centre for Migration Studies, brought together policymakers, researchers, and development partners to rethink how evidence can better inform migration governance.
Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey stressed that migration policies must reflect realities on the ground, pointing to increasing internal migration trends driven by economic pressures and shifting opportunities.
Adding an academic perspective, Mary Boatemaa Setrana underscored the need for African-led research to play a stronger role in shaping policy, warning that reliance on externally driven studies often fails to capture local dynamics.
Stakeholders called for closer collaboration between institutions such as the International Organization for Migration and national agencies to develop actionable tools, including policy briefs, training systems, and real-time data platforms.
With climate change, regional instability, and trafficking networks intensifying migration pressures, participants agreed that bridging the research–policy gap is critical to ensuring safer, more coordinated, and humane migration management.
