Accra: Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been trained to advocate effectively to ensure the ratification of the African Union Free Movement Protocol (AUFMP) by 2027. The AUFMP, adopted in 2018, aims to promote continental integration, labour mobility, and socio-economic development by facilitating the free movement of persons within Africa.
According to Ghana News Agency, since its adoption, only four countries-Mali, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe-have ratified the treaty. The implementation of the protocol is dependent on fifteen member states ratifying it, even though it seeks to benefit the continent and its people.
To achieve this target, the Coalition of Civil Societies on Migration, Ghana (CCMG), in collaboration with GIZ MEG, organized a two-day hybrid capacity training on developing advocacy plans for the protocol's ratification in eleven amenable countries. The workshop included both online and in-house participants from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and South Africa.
Mr. Eric Peasah, the Convener of CCMG, stated that the workshop aimed to strengthen the advocacy capacity of CCMG leaders for the free movement protocol and assist them in lobbying the governments of eleven amenable AU member states to ratify the treaty by July 2027. He highlighted the workshop's goal to enhance participants' knowledge and understanding of the AUFMP, its benefits, and the current ratification status across the continent.
'Building this capacity is critical to ensure that civil society actors are equipped to lead informed, coordinated, and impactful campaigns,' Mr. Peasah explained. Emphasizing the protocol's significance, he described it as more than a policy, but a blueprint for Africa's integration. 'When ratified and implemented, the AUFMP will fulfill the vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area. However, the path forward requires our commitment,' he added.
Mr. Peasah urged participants to adopt a bottom-up approach in planning their advocacies to achieve the common goal. Participants also emphasized the need to include all stakeholders to ensure comprehensive coverage in the campaign.
