September 9, 2012
SECAM Establishes Working Group on Migration
A Continental Working Group on Migration has been formed by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). The group among other things will advice the Church in Africa regarding pastoral care of migrants with particular reference to the promotion and protection of migrants rights on the national, regional and continental levels.
This was the outcome of a three-day meeting jointly organised by SECAM and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) that took place in Accra from September 7-9, 2012. The Working Group comprises all the Secretaries General of the eight Regional Episcopal Conferences in Africa, two officials from SECAM Secretariat, one representative each from Caritas Africa, National Migration Commission, Justice and Peace Commission and ICMC. Rev. Fr. Mesmin Prosper Massengo, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACERAC) was unanimously elected as the first Chairman of the Group. The Secretary of the Department of Justice, Peace and Development of SECAM will serve as its Secretary.
Most Rev. Simon Ntamwana, Archbishop of Chitega,, Burundi and a member of the Standing Committee of SECAM who officially opened the meeting on behalf of Most Rev. Gabriel Mbilingi, Second Vice President of (SECAM) and head of the Justice, Peace and Development Department of SECAM said that migration by Africans was a contributory factor for destabilising and destroying families on the continent.
He noted that as at last year Africa accounted for one-fifth of the global migrants population of 16 million, and “projections indicate that by 2025, one in ten Africans will work outside their countries of origin.”
The Archbishop was optimistic that the meeting would provide an opportunity for the Church in Africa to review its commitment and the impact on agenda of the Global Forum of Migration and Development.
The outcome of the meeting, as well, as the forthcoming Pan-African Congress on Migration, he added, would give African another opportunity to take a closer look “at ourselves in order to be more as salt of the earth and light of the world.”
In a welcome address, presented on behalf Rev. Fr. Francois Xavier Damiba, Secretary General of SECAM, Benedict Assorow, Communications Director of SECAM described migration as a worldwide phenomenon which calls for increased pastoral attention by the Church in Africa.
He stated that migration involved people of various categories including internally-displaced people, stateless persons, victims of human trafficking, vulnerable persons, children, asylum seekers and students.
Assorow therefore advised National and Regional Episcopal Conference in Africa to put in place appropriate institutions for the study of migrants and provide pastoral care for the them. “We live in a world full of contradictions and deep crisis for which the Church has to do all it takes to be a healing community in Africa.” He added.
The Secretary General of ICMC, Mr. Johan Ketelers who in no small measure contributed to the process for setting up of the Working Group within the last five years. He hoped that the Regional Secretaries who work hard in making the Group more effective and efficient. He also mad a presentation on some findings by the World Bank regarding Migration and Remittances and on The Global forum on Migration and Development.
Policy documents of the African Union (AU) on Migration were presented by a Migration Officer of the AU, Mr. Philip Jusu. He pointed out that the AU would need the support of civil society for the effective implementation of the policies of the AU. He therefore appealed to SECAM to collaborate with his Office in this regard.
The meeting was facilitated by Messrs. Firmin Adjahossou and Paul Muchena, both Programme Officers of the Good Governance Section of SECAM.
At a thanksgiving Mass, at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Legon, University of Ghana the President of the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa(IMBISA), Most Rev. Nubuasah, main celebrant, thanked Parishioners for their warn hospitality and urged them to desist from moving from the Catholic Church to other Church in search of miracles adding that God worked miracles through faith. He also briefed them about the meeting on Migration.
After the Mass the Group interacted with some Ghanaian and foreign students of the University of Ghana.
The meeting as attended by 20 delegates from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Benin, Egypt, Togo, Botswana, Ghana and Switzerland.
Issued by: Benedict B. Assorow
Director of Communications, SECAM
Tel: 00 233 302 778872 / 00 233 24 4274186
E-mail: secaminfo@yahoo.com