Migrant Workers Remit over $40 Billion Annually to ECOWAS Region – Says ECOWAS Envoy
Migrant workers across West Africa send home an estimated $40 billion every year, significantly bolstering the region’s economy through support for education, healthcare, family welfare, and small businesses.
This was revealed by the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, at the opening of a three-day conference in Accra focused on validating the ECOWAS Labour Migration Strategy and Action Plan (LMSAP).
Speaking at the conference, Ambassador Gana highlighted the crucial role of migrant labour in driving development across the sub-region. He noted that in 2019 alone, migrant workers accounted for 2.8% of Africa’s total labour force, with 3.7 million of them contributing to key sectors such as agriculture, construction, mining, domestic services, and hospitality within ECOWAS.
“The contribution of migrant workers goes beyond labour – they are a lifeline for millions of families through their remittances,” Ambassador Gana emphasized. He added that from 2010 to 2019, the number of international migrant workers in Africa rose from 9.6 million to 14.5 million — a 50% increase in under a decade — with an annual growth rate of 4.8%, nearly double that of the general population.
He praised the high labour absorption rates of migrant workers, citing figures of 94.6% in Ghana and 90.1% in Nigeria, underscoring their importance in sustaining national economies.
Despite these achievements, Ambassador Gana warned of persistent challenges facing labour migration, including irregular migration, inadequate social protections, weak governance, limited data, and the marginalization of vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth.
To address these concerns, the ECOWAS Labour Migration Strategy and Action Plan has been developed, outlining five key strategic objectives:
Promoting Regular Migration and Human Security – This aims to create safe, legal, and well-regulated migration pathways while tackling exploitation and trafficking.
Protecting Migrant Workers’ Rights – The strategy emphasizes fair recruitment, access to justice, social protection, and the signing of bilateral labour agreements.
Maximizing Development Impact – This involves enhancing financial literacy, supporting reintegration programs, and aligning migration policies with national development agendas.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Governance – The strategy proposes improved institutional frameworks and coordination among ECOWAS Member States, backed by a new Labour Migration Technical Working Group.
Ensuring Gender and Social Inclusion – A focus on inclusive policies that safeguard the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities.
“This Strategy is more than a policy document — it is a regional commitment to ensure migration is safe, voluntary, and beneficial,” Ambassador Gana stressed. He called on the media and stakeholders to share the stories of migrant workers and amplify the goals of the Strategy.
The event brought together labour experts from across the sub-region and is being held with support from the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labour Organization (ILO), and other partners.
Ambassador Gana concluded by urging stakeholders to work together towards a future where migration in West Africa is safe, orderly, dignified, and a tool for sustainable development.
Source: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso
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