The Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) at the University of Ghana has unveiled ambitious plans to establish a Migration Studies Complex and a Professorial Chair in Migration Studies as part of its long-term institutional development.
The Director of the Centre, Prof. Mary B. Setrana, announced the initiative during the opening of the CMS@20 International Conference held at the ISSER Conference Facility. The conference was organised under the theme “Bridging the Gap? Rethinking Engagement between Migration Research, Policies and Practices.”
Addressing a gathering of scholars, policymakers, practitioners, students and development partners, Prof. Setrana said the Centre is entering a new phase aimed at strengthening migration research, training and policy engagement in Africa.
She explained that the proposed Migration Studies Complex will provide expanded infrastructure to support research, postgraduate training and policy dialogue in migration studies.
According to her, the facility will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research and collaboration, bringing together scholars and practitioners working on migration across Africa and beyond.
Prof. Setrana also announced plans to establish a Professorial Chair in Migration Studies, an initiative intended to deepen academic leadership and strengthen doctoral training within the Centre.
She noted that the Chair will support the development of the next generation of African migration scholars and contribute to strengthening intellectual leadership in migration research on the continent.
Reflecting on the Centre’s journey, Prof. Setrana emphasised that the plans build on two decades of scholarship, training and policy engagement undertaken by CMS since its establishment. Founded in 2006 by migration scholar Mariama Awumbila, the Centre has grown into one of Africa’s leading institutions dedicated to migration research and postgraduate training.
Prof. Setrana noted that CMS currently hosts dozens of postgraduate students and has trained scholars whose work contributes to universities, international organisations and policy institutions across Africa and beyond.
She further highlighted the Centre’s involvement in national and regional migration policy development, including contributions to Ghana’s National Migration Policy, Diaspora Engagement Policy, and Labour Migration Policy.
The Director stressed that strengthening institutional capacity remains critical as migration continues to shape economic, social and political dynamics across Africa. According to her, CMS will continue working with governments, regional bodies and international partners to ensure that research evidence informs migration governance.
Prof. Setrana added that the Centre remains committed to advancing rigorous, African-centred scholarship that contributes to more informed and humane migration policies.
The CMS@20 International Conference forms part of a series of activities marking twenty years of the Centre’s contributions to migration research, training and policy engagement in Africa.
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