The Provost of the College of Humanities, University of Ghana, Prof. Joseph A. Yaro, has called for stronger engagement between migration research, policymaking and practice to improve migration governance.
Prof. Yaro made the call while chairing the opening ceremony of the 2nd CMS@20 International Conference organised by the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of Ghana.
The conference was held under the theme “Bridging the Gap? Rethinking Engagement between Migration Research, Policies and Practices.”
Addressing a gathering of scholars, policymakers, practitioners and development partners, Prof. Yaro emphasised that migration continues to shape political discourse, economic planning and social transformation across the world.
However, he noted that significant disconnects remain between knowledge production and policymaking.
“This gathering comes at a very important moment, given the urgent questions that continue to shape migration research, policy and practice in our contemporary world,” he said.
According to Prof. Yaro, the theme of the conference invites critical reflection on persistent gaps between research evidence and policy implementation, as well as between governance frameworks and the lived realities of migrants.
“These are not abstract academic concerns,” he stressed. “They have real consequences for governance, development, human mobility, and the dignity and welfare of migrants and their families.”
He explained that addressing these gaps requires stronger collaboration between researchers, policymakers and practitioners to ensure that migration governance is grounded in empirical evidence and responsive to real-world challenges.
Prof. Yaro also commended the Centre for Migration Studies for its two decades of scholarship, training and policy engagement, describing the Centre as a leading hub for migration research in Africa.
He acknowledged the leadership of the Centre’s Director, Mary B. Setrana, and the contributions of faculty, staff and partners whose work continues to strengthen the Centre’s academic visibility and policy impact.
The Provost further highlighted the importance of international collaboration in advancing migration scholarship, noting the partnership between CMS and the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute.
Prof. Yaro urged participants to use the conference as an opportunity to deepen dialogue and generate new insights that can strengthen migration governance across Africa and beyond.
“As we officially open this conference, I invite us to move beyond diagnosis to meaningful action, beyond fragmentation to greater integration and beyond existing divides to building strong and lasting bridges between research, policy and practice,” he said.
The two-day conference forms part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of the Centre for Migration Studies and brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine how migration knowledge can better inform policy and practice.
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