CMS UG, AU Commissioner Pays Courtesy Call on VC, Announces Landmark African Migration Conference

The Director of the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS), Prof. Mary Setrana, and AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, H.E. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, recently paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo.

The visit was used to announce the University of Ghana’s upcoming landmark African migration conference, titled “Rethinking African Mobility: Past Lessons, Present Realities, Future Possibilities”, scheduled for November 18 to 20 as part of activities marking the 20th Anniversary of CMS.

The conference is being organised in close collaboration with the African Union (AU) and Metropolis International Migration Network, reflecting a strong partnership geared towards addressing critical issues in migration, social development, health and humanitarian affairs.

During the meeting, H.E. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah highlighted the importance of collaborative approaches in addressing migration challenges across the continent. She discussed that shared knowledge, policy dialogue and joint research are essential to shaping sustainable solutions for African mobility

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, reiterated the university’s strategic priorities, noting that “impactful research” and “engagement and partnerships” are central to achieving global impact and delivering results swiftly. “We recognise that we cannot do this on our own and are committed to working with our partners, including the African Union,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo reaffirmed the University’s strategic priorities, noting that impactful research, engagement and partnerships are central to achieving global impact. “We recognise that we cannot do this alone and are committed to working closely with our partners, including the African Union,” she said.

She also praised CMS for its leadership in shaping migration research and policy in Africa over the past two decades and looked forward to hosting the conference. 

Prof. Mary Setrana elaborated on the objectives of the conference, stating, “We are looking at rethinking African migration. We want to explore lessons learned, current realities and future mobilities, as well as how African countries and other regions can benefit mutually.”

She noted that the University of Ghana brings significant expertise and a strong network accumulated over the years to support both the academic and policy-focused components of the conference.

The conference will bring together academics, policymakers, government representatives and key stakeholders, including the King of Morocco, who serves as the African Union’s champion on migration-related issues. The discussions will focus on sharing Africa’s best practices, learning from global experiences, and promoting collaborative solutions for migration management.

During the visit, the Vice-Chancellor and CMS Director also discussed the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University and the AU, aimed at promoting sustained collaboration in research, policy, and capacity building.

The Centre looks forward to hosting the landmark conference, strengthening dialogue and promoting knowledge exchange on migration across the continent and beyond.