According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Bono and Bono East regions of Ghana are the highest contributors to stranded Libyan returnees since 2017.

In the Bono region, Jaman South constituency is one of the major suppliers of these migrants into Europe, Asia, America and other parts of the World.

Unfortunately, most people return from some of these trips empty-handed and subsequently encounter a lot of challenges as they begin to lose hope in life.

They are either left with no other option than to use foul means to earn a living or become a burden for their families.

For this reason, IOM has partnered with BOK Africa Concern, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), to develop community reintegration projects within the Bono and Bono East regions in 2018.

Subsequently, several projects aimed at bringing together returnees and community members were developed and implemented in 2020 amidst the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

In one of such initiatives to give hope to Libya returnees and potential migrants in the Jaman South constituency, BOK Africa Concern officially opened a new cattle ranch at Mpuasu.

The “Gye Nyame Farms” is now in operation with a total number of 10 cattle, including 7 bulls and 3 cows.

The cattle ranch has been handed over to the people of Mpuasu on gratis and made up of White Fulani, Sokoto Gudali, West Africa Shorthorn and the Zebu breeds.
At a durbar to officially hand over the new cattle ranch at Mpausu, the Project Manager of IOM Ghana, Florian Braendli, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration with BOK Africa Concern and Mpausu community members to construct the ranch.

He commended the German Development Corporation (GIZ) for supporting the project which was launched in 2018 to help reintegrate migrants successfully, and make the programme sustainable without any stigmatisation involved.

He said, "since 2018, we have not only offered support to migrants in Ghana but have embarked on a total of eight collective projects in the communities in the Bono and Ahafo Regions".

He was confident the project will be a symbol for the youth in the area to shun irregular migration.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaman South Constituency, Williams Okofo-Dateh, commended BOK Africa Concern and its partners for the initiative to provide livelihood opportunities for the youth to prevent irregular migration in the area.

He reaffirmed his commitment to partner with local and international development organisations to bring more projects to the constituency in the quest to reduce unemployment among the youth, a major cause of irregular migration.

“We are making efforts are to provide electric poles to connect electricity to the water reservoir and mechanised borehole, to pump water for the cattle since a similar one at Atuna has already been connected,” the MP stated.

The Chief of Mpuasu, Nana Takyi Mensah, said the project was in fulfillment of a request made by him after a community entry assessment made about a year ago by the NGO and its funding agencies for the provision of the ranch.

He commended the organisations for providing the ranch, stressing “the investment in youth development in agriculture and its attendant income-generating activities could be made from the sale of the cattle for the development of the community”.