Rethinking Migration Policymaking in an Era of Global Talent Hunt in Ghana.
Abstract
Migration has many dimensions, including labour migration. One of the core themes under labour migration governance is the competition for skilled labour, mostly framed as ‘Global Talent Hunt’, which continues to shape migration flows, labour market access and development strategies. Ghana, a country with a long history of skilled migration and an increasingly active diaspora, the era global talent hunt demands a rethinking of migration policymaking: from passive containment and/or defensive attempts to stem “brain drain” toward proactive and flexible policies that harness global talent for national development. The qualitative study, backed by policy diffusion theory and the Multilevel Governance Framework (MLG), relied on data obtained during my PhD fieldwork, including thirty-three (33) in-depth interviews and secondary data obtained from relevant institutions. This paper outlines the policy challenge, analyses current Ghanaian approaches, identifies gaps, and proposes a policy framework to align migration governance in Ghana with the realities of global talent competition.
Organizer
Dr. Frank Ayisi is a Chief Superintendent of Immigration and currently the Acting Head of the Ghana Immigration Service Centre of Excellence (GISCE). He is also a part-time lecturer at the Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, where he completed his PhD in Migration Studies. His specialty includes migration governance; immigration politics, policy and investment as well as forced displacement and capacity enhancement. Dr. Ayisi has spent over 26 years with the Ghana Immigration Service and has worked in diverse sections and stations. His abilities include listening, communication, attention to detail, problem-solving, adaptability, critical thinking, and teamwork. He is an advocate for a balanced approach to (im)migration policy. Frank is the Vice President of AMSA, married to Peace, with four (4) children, and has a passion for football.