Ghanaian-German Centre For Jobs, Migration And Reintegration Relocates To Deepen Collaboration With Labour Ministry

In a move to deepen its collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and to serve its clients better, the Ghanaian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (GGC) has launched its operations at its new corporate address – Starlets 91 Road next to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) in Accra.

With this new location and enhanced architectural set-up, the GGC improves its core function as an employment hub for Ghanaians seeking assistance in matters of employment, migration and reintegration. The GGC is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Ghana in collaboration with the MELR.

Addressing key stakeholders and the media at a short ceremony to mark the launch of operations at the new premise, Head of the Centre, Benjamin Woesten remarked that "I am happy to say that today’s ceremony is a manifestation of both the MELR’s and GIZ’s common interest in promoting employment in Ghana and the good faith that we both have in ourselves. Together, we want to support the youth in Ghana to shape their future at home and help returning migrants reintegrate into Ghanaian society. To this end, the launch of operations here is an important milestone for us and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and I am very confident that it will go a long way to contribute to the provision of opportunities for the youth in this country. Opportunities that will represent viable alternatives at home and thus contribute to stem the tide of irregular migration which places many young people in vulnerable situations."

The GGC also presented various IT and office items to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to support the operationalisation of the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS). The GLMIS is set to provide job offers as well as job seekers profiles on a dedicated website, run by the Labour Department of the MELR. The items include laptops, desktops, printers, photocopiers, projectors, server, air conditioner, UPS for laptops and servers, among others.

On his part, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Honourable Ignatius Baffour Awuah said the collaborative initiative is part of Government efforts to fight against the high rate of unemployment in the country, strengthen the decent job creation agenda of the Government and also help minimize the issue of migration through unsafe pathways to Germany and other Gulf States.

The Centre will further provide services including support to returnees and offer them assistance for social and occupational reintegration, provide information and advice on vocational training and employment opportunities in Ghana, provide information on options and requirements for legal migration to Germany as well as inform people about the risks involved in irregular migration.

The centre will further serve as a data collection and research centre to inform government decision making processes on unemployment.

Hon. Baffour is excited that the centre will also provide the necessary support to the Migration Unit of the Labour Department under this ministry.