By Stephanie Birikorang
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance media reporting on labour migration, fair recruitment, and forced labour in Ghana.
The agreement, formalized on Friday in Accra, aims to equip journalists with the knowledge and tools necessary to accurately report on these critical issues.
The Director of the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Dr. Vanessa Phala, described the partnership as a “very important milestone” in tackling misinformation and stigma surrounding labour migration.
She emphasized the need for data-driven narratives to highlight the contributions of migrant workers to socio-economic development, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7, which seeks to eliminate child labour and forced labour.
“For us, with the Fair Recruitment Project and the tools we have developed on labour migration and fair recruitment, this is an opportunity to integrate them into the institution’s curriculum,” Dr. Phala stated.
She added, “We aim not only to inform but also to educate and change the narrative. The contributions of migrants are often misunderstood and underappreciated, but with accurate reporting, we can foster a greater appreciation of their role.”
Dr. Phala, who also serves as the Liaison Officer for ECOWAS, reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to accountability in the collaboration, emphasizing that the MoU would provide a structured framework for both institutions to monitor progress and measure impact.
The National Project Coordinator of ILO’s Fair Recruitment (FAIR) Phase III project, Mr. Kamil Abubakari, described the MoU as a critical step in addressing challenges in the Ghana-Arab states migration corridor, where many migrants work in low-skilled sectors and face high risks of exploitation.
He provided an overview of the FAIR programme, which was launched globally in 2015 to promote fair recruitment practices in selected migration corridors across Africa, the Arab states, and South Asia.
“One of the critical features of FAIR is changing public perception of labour migrants. Misinformation often distorts reality, despite studies showing the significant contributions of migrant workers to destination countries. To address this, the ILO launched a global media toolkit in 2020 to train journalists and media professionals on effective and accurate reportage,” he noted.
According to him, the toolkit—already adapted in over 20 countries—was tailored to Ghana’s context in March 2024, with two UniMAC faculty members contributing to the process. The MoU will now facilitate its full integration into the university’s curriculum, ensuring that journalism students receive structured training on forced labour, fair recruitment, and labour migration.
The Vice-Chancellor of UniMAC, Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah, reaffirmed the university’s dedication to the partnership, stating that the collaboration goes beyond a symbolic agreement.
“On behalf of UniMAC, I want to reiterate our commitment to delivering on this collaboration. It is in our own interest to ensure that this partnership yields excellent outcomes so that we can leverage it for future projects.”
“We are happy to be part of this initiative, and I assure you that UniMAC will deliver on this commitment,” he added. “This is just the beginning, and I am confident that we will return to this room to discuss further collaborations that will benefit humanity.”
