President Akufo-Addo is expected to grace the 2021 edition of the African Migration Summit which has been scheduled to come off on February 25 and February 26.

The President will be accompanied by Executive Chair of the Nekotech Center for Labour Migration Diplomacy, Rev. Dr. Ocansey; Activist, Prof Patrick Lumumba from Kenya and Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Diasporan Matters, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe to lead the convergence of dignitaries.

The highly anticipated summit themed, Labour Migration: Shifting the Paradigm to Benefit Africa, will take place at the Accra International Conference Center, Ghana and would have in attendance other top African leaders, journalists, stakeholders and migration advocates, academia and top policy makers.

In partnership with Nekotech Center of Excellence, the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) is holding the summit to ascertain the rate of migration matters across the continent.

Notable organisation taking part in the events are Office of the President of Ghana, International Organization For Migration (IOM) Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria, Organization Pour l’ integration Africaine (OIA), Togo, ESCAE University- Benin Republic and Center for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, Legon.

In a statement President of JIFORM, Ajibola Abayomi urged participants across the globe to register online at www.africanmigrationsummit.org to access and participate in this kairos event.

Mr Abayomi said “This important and timely summit will be held in strict compliance with the covid-19 protocols in Ghana.”

“While there is a need to maintain safety measures against Covid-19, the time has come for African leaders, governments and Migration stakeholders to urgently deepen their collaborations with African media on African migration matters to better the lot of the citizenry of the African continent and to establish the necessary platforms to stem the tide of slavery and inhumane treatment being meted out to some Africans outside of Africa, especially in the Middle East -  by halting irregular migration and human trafficking”.

 Adding her voice to the need to reappraise the African migration dynamics, the Executive Chairperson of the Nekotech Center for Labour Migration Diplomacy,  Dr. Ocansey said:  "We are alarmed by the major negative impact of COVID-19 on African migrants, especially Women Domestic Workers in the Middle East.

"We plan to appeal to all African leaders and governments as well as African migration activists and stakeholders to attend and contribute meaningfully to the many strategies and keys to migration success  to be discussed by our Migration experts at the African Migration Summit to ensure that we, as a continent,  quench the tears of African migrants and make a shift together to ensure Migration benefits Africa to accelerate the achievement of the goals of Africa Agenda 2063”.

Speakers for the summit are: Dr. Tunji Asaolu, the Nigerian Representative at the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC); Alpha O. Timbo,  Minister of Labour and Social Security, Sierra Leone, Dr. Winfred Nii Okai Hammond, Ghana Ambassador to Egypt and Lebanon and Dr Azuma Ijoma, the President OIA.

Other top personalities listed also as guest speakers are: Gerry Weiner, former Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Canada; Susan Gong, former board member of Canada Refugee board and the CEO of Altec Global Incorporation, a foremost immigration consulting firm; Ms. Philomena Gnanapragasan, the Director of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting (AIBD) Malaysia.

And Dr Ajijola Isaac, the Director of Studies ESCAE University, Benin; Professor Byron Price, the Global Director, Diaspora Innovation Institute- City University, USA; Professor Joseph Teye, Director- Center for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, Legon and H.E. Lillian Sally Addo,  Country Head,  United Nations Youth Association, Ghana-  among others.

To register online please visit: www.africanmigrationsummit.org.