UN Migration Agency Appoints Ghanaian Rapper Kofi Kinaata as Goodwill Ambassador to Promote Safe Migration
Ghanaian rapper and songwriter, Kofi Kinaata, has become IOM, the UN
Migration Agency’s first Goodwill Ambassador to promote safe migration
in Ghana. He will be supporting IOM’s advocacy and fundraising efforts,
including educating young Ghanaians about the dangers associated with
the journey across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea to reach
North Africa and Europe.
Kinaata will support IOM Ghana’s Aware Migrants Information Campaign
through the release of a new song aimed at encouraging Ghanaian youth to
value their lives and not take unnecessary risks in chasing illusionary
greener pastures. The Aware Migrants Information Campaign is part of
the Engaging West African Communities (EWAC) project funded by the
German Federal Foreign Office.
From 20 to 21 November, Kinaata travelled to the Brong Ahafo Region
with Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, IOM Ghana Chief of Mission, as his first
official trip. He met with the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister; visited
the Migration Information Centre (MIC) set up by IOM and currently
managed by Ghana Immigration Service in the city of Sunyani; and visited
a pilot farm established by IOM through the Ghana Integrated Migration
Management Approach (GIMMA) project in Nkoranza. The farm employs young
returnees and provides alternative livelihood generation for potential
migrants among other activities. The GIMMA project is funded by the
European Union and jointly implemented by IOM Ghana and the Ghana
Immigration Service (GIS).
“Kofi Kinaata, as one of the most talented contemporary Ghanaian
singers, has a huge fan base among young people including those in areas
prone to high migration. His engagement with IOM can truly contribute
to saving many Ghanaian lives that are lost or negatively affected by
irregular migration every year,” said Lopez-Ekra. “Having friends and
acquaintances who have chosen to migrate irregularly, he has embraced
the safe migration cause wholeheartedly. We are thankful for his
involvement with our work,” she added.
In 2016, 5,636 Ghanaian migrants arrived in Italy by sea, an increase
from 4,431 in 2015. Most Ghanaians trying to reach Europe irregularly
travel through Libya, where currently, tens of thousands of the
estimated 700,000 migrants living in the country suffer horrendous human
rights abuses by the hands of traffickers. IOM has reported and
condemned the exploitation of migrants in Libya since April 2017 when a
video emerged showing African migrants in Libya being sold as slaves.
In 2017, IOM Ghana has so far facilitated the return of 241 Ghanaians
from Libya and Niger. IOM will continue to assist stranded Ghanaians
who need humanitarian assistance through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration in Africa.
The returnees are provided with reintegration assistance based on their
needs. IOM and partners also support returnees with orientation towards
innovative income-generating activities which have a socio-economic
impact on their community of origin.
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