Accra: The Governing Council of the University of Ghana has promoted Prof. Mary Boatemaa Setrana, Director of the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS), to Full Professor of Migration and Social Change. This promotion marks a significant milestone in her career as a scholar and leader in migration studies.
According to Ghana News Agency, the announcement was made after a meeting of the University's Governing Council on April 16, 2026, and was formally communicated by Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, the Registrar of the University and Secretary to the Council. Prof. Setrana is also the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Research Chair on Forced Displacement in Anglophone West Africa.
Prof. Setrana is recognized for her extensive research in migration governance, forced displacement, and migration policy development in Africa. Her research portfolio includes studies on return migration, labor migration, diaspora engagement, climate-induced displacement, and gendered migration dynamics. Her work has provided insights into migration aspirations, the experiences of 'stayers' in migrant-sending communities, and migrant reintegration processes.
Beyond academia, Prof. Setrana has played a crucial role in shaping migration policy and governance frameworks in Ghana and across Africa. She has contributed to the development of key national and regional policy instruments, including Ghana's Labour Migration Policy and diaspora engagement strategies. Her work has supported policy dialogue and capacity building for governments and international organizations.
At the Centre for Migration Studies, Prof. Setrana has facilitated national and regional migration policy processes in collaboration with government ministries, international partners, and civil society organizations. Her expertise has been sought in continental initiatives to strengthen migration governance and responses to forced displacement.
Recently, she led initiatives supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and international partners, including developing a Community Engagement and Policing Strategy for the Ghana Immigration Service. She is also leading a team to review and update Ghana's National Migration Policy and serves as the lead facilitator for revising Ghana's National Labour Migration Policy.
Prof. Setrana's policy expertise extends beyond Ghana. She led the development of Botswana's National Migration Policy and contributed to Ghana's Diaspora Policy. At the continental level, she has worked with the African Union (AU) on migration governance, developing gender-responsive labor migration policy modules and evaluating the AU Migration Policy Framework.
In addition to her policy work, Prof. Setrana has led international research projects supported by global partners like the European Union and United Nations agencies. Her projects, such as the Migration for Development and Equality (MIDEQ) and Resilience Against Climate Change Social Transformation Research and Policy Advocacy (REACH-STR), have generated significant evidence on migration dynamics and social transformation in Africa.
Under her leadership, the Centre for Migration Studies has become a leading hub for interdisciplinary migration research, training, and policy engagement in Africa. Prof. Setrana also contributes to global academic networks, serving on committees and advisory boards, and is committed to mentoring and capacity building, supervising students and training researchers across Africa.
Prof. Setrana's promotion is seen as recognition of her contributions to scholarship, mentorship, and evidence-based policy development in migration studies. The University and Centre for Migration Studies have congratulated her on this achievement, highlighting her academic excellence and global impact on migration research and policy engagement.