An initiative aimed at equipping Ghanaian migrant returnees with relevant skills for the logistics sector and the wider job market has been launched in Accra.

Dubbed: “The Ubuntu Academy,” the initiative was developed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), the Government of Ghana and DHL Global Forwarding.

It seeks to strengthen the reintegration and long-term stability of returned migrants while enhancing their contribution to national development.

The programme is being implemented through the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and is anchored on the Ubuntu Initiative.

It also seeks to rebuild the confidence of beneficiaries by providing relevant skills training, psychosocial support and access to employment opportunities.

Launching the initiative at the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra, the Country Head and Chief Executive Officer of DHL West Africa, Mr Serigne Ndanck Mbay, said the lack of relevant and employable skills remained a major factor driving both regular and irregular migration on the African continent.

He said African leaders must prioritise skills development and move beyond rhetoric to address the root causes of illegal migration, stressing that sustainable solutions lay in empowering the youth with practical skills rather than relying solely on restrictive migration policies.

Mr Mbay explained that the programme was designed to equip participants with both technical and soft skills required to succeed in today’s job market.

These include core logistics competencies as well as behavioural and performance skills such as communication, attitude and adaptability, which are critical for integration into the logistics industry and other sectors of the economy.

According to him, the onboarding process exposes beneficiaries to foundational industry knowledge alongside soft skills development, ensuring a balance between technical aptitude and professional conduct.

The goal, he emphasised, is to produce a versatile and employable workforce capable of contributing meaningfully to organisational and national development.

Mr Mbay added that the initiative was rooted in DHL’s corporate social responsibility activities, which have previously supported refugees and persons with disabilities in countries such as Zimbabwe.

The IOM Chief of Mission, Ms Fatou Dallo Ndiaye, indicated that the initiative marked a deliberate effort to deepen private sector participation in migration management and to recognise migration as a cross-cutting development issue requiring strong multi-stakeholder partnerships.

She said beneficiaries of previous EU-supported return programmes already receive reintegration assistance, including skills training and support for small enterprise development.

However, she explained that the Ubuntu Academy went further by focusing on advanced skills development, job readiness and placement within enterprises to enable migrants to achieve greater economic independence and long-term stability.

Ms Ndiaye stated that the six-month programme would be delivered through a combination of in-person and remote engagements, and would target not only returnees but also potential migrants, particularly young people.

She added that plans were underway to expand private sector involvement, including a forthcoming partnership with Fidelity Bank, to strengthen youth employment and entrepreneurship outcomes.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Technical Advisor at the Ministry, Dr Delle Sangu, the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr George Opare Addo, said migration across Ghana and the wider African continent reflected aspirations and resilience but often came with significant risks.

He said the IOM–DHL Ubuntu Academy aligned with the National Reset Agenda, the National Youth Policy and the government’s broader youth employment strategies, stressing that sustainable development was impossible if young people remained excluded from meaningful economic participation.