Returning Experts Alumni Network Ghana (RANG) has been launched in Takoradi in the Western Region yesterday.
It was on theme; ‘After two years of Centre of International Migration (CIM)/Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) support, what next?’
GIZ Ghana, through its programme; Migration and Diaspora (PMD), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), officially launched (RANG), its alumni association known as Returning Experts.
Members of RANG are Ghanaians who either lived, worked, or studied in Germany and on their return to Ghana, have been facilitated by GIZ-Programme on Migration and Diaspora, to harnessing their potential for Ghana’s development.
Speaking at the launch, Head of Local Government Service, Dr Nana Ato Arthur said,“As a Returned Expert, I believe there is the need to bring all of us together to support the development of Ghana with our diverse skills set, talents and resources in ways that will positively impact Ghana.”
He added “Our mantra “one person can make a difference” places a huge responsibility on us and challenges us to do more in our different capacities – but imagine what we can achieve and help this country to achieve if we join our forces together”
Dr Arthur noted however, that eventhough the desire by young Ghanaians to go abroad to study and acquire skills had increased, the desire to return and support national development keeps dwindling.
Explaining this situation, he listed factors including the relatively downward trend of the economy compared to the post-independence era, indiscipline, dishonesty and the moral bankruptcy which have engulfed the nation.
He added that, “The corruption and the seeming ease with which crimes, including murders are committed in this country of late scare them. The limited job opportunities to them also becomes a disincentive for them to want to come to Ghana to serve.
“Even to the extent that, some argued that job opportunities have become political — The perception out there is that one may not have a job of higher level in the public sector for example if he is not seen as an NPP person when the NPP is in power and the same happens when the NDC holds the mantle of governance.”
Dr Arthur said, the politicisation of job opportunities did not attract apolitical professionals to come back to serve this country.
Project Manager responsible for the field of action, Development-Oriented Return (Returning Experts) with PMD, Wilhelmina Onyango said “our funding support offered for the regular period of two years does not indicate the end of knowledge sharing and exchange, but — the beginning of new shared experiences that we are able to build on together. “
The Head of the Ghanaian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration, Benjamin Woesten, highlighted the support GIZ gave to the alumni network and charged them to build on their established impact and let it be felt in the country’s development discourse.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI
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