Kwaku Gyening Owusu Thesis Submitted for Phd Department Of
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Migration and Development: Ghanaian Hometown Associations (HTAs) as Drivers of Welfare Development Back Home Kwaku Gyening Owusu Thesis submitted for PhD Department of Sociological Studies The University of Sheffield February 2020 1 Abstract Migration, especially from the Global South to the Global North, has in recent times encountered mixed reactions. This has in part influenced both international and national migration policies and regimes. These mixed reactions have intensified the debate concerning the migration and development nexus conundrum. However, past migration and development literature though not limited in focus, largely analyses the impact of migration on the macro, meso and micro levels of sending countries using concepts other than socio-psychological concepts. It is in light of this that this thesis seeks to contribute to knowledge of the impact of migration on the meso, or communal level, from seldom used socio-psychological concepts. The thesis investigates this impact through case studies on Ghanaian HTAs in the UK and their transnational activities oriented on developing welfare and wellbeing at the meso level ‘back home’. The thesis focuses on four Ghanaian Hometown Associations (HTAs) and explores their welfare engagements in their own communities and other parts of Ghana. It does this through an extended analysis of family/household livelihood perspectives and through the lens of three socio- psychological theories: communal and exchange theory; individual and group self- centeredness concept; and role-set theory, seldom employed in migration studies. The thesis adopts a qualitative research method by conducting multi-sited fieldwork in the UK and Ghana. In doing so, it follows the works and activities of these associations between the UK and Ghana. Findings from the data collected through interviews, observation and secondary analysis of documentary sources, illuminate how Ghanaian HTAs positively impact meso level development back home. The findings also illuminate challenges and show that the 2 associations’ motivations to undertake such activities are multifaceted. Key among these motivations are catering for the wellbeing of their left-behind families, the wellbeing of non- related families or the community and the wellbeing of the HTA members, especially when they visit or retire to live in Ghana. Furthermore, the findings indicate that Ghanaian HTAs’ transnational roles, especially in their communities back home, are mandated as an implicitly expected duty entrenched in Ghanaian socio-economic norms, formed around obligation and values of personhood. Hence, communities and families back home expect Ghanaians abroad to remit financial resources and newly found social ideas when their socio-economic wellbeing in receiving countries is perceived to be successful and stable. Lastly, policymakers, the Ghanaian government, the Ghanaian HTA members and recipients of the projects are also of the view that the Ghanaians abroad are crucial welfare development partners, hence the need to find feasible ways to engage them through workable policies, programs and strategies. Keywords: Migration, Meso Level Development, Ghana, UK, Hometown Associations 3 Acknowledgements Dedicated to my Dad - Mr Frank Owusu (1932-2016) I wish to thank the almighty God for making it possible for me to undertake my PhD. It was a challenging undertaken and without His support, I would not have come this far. I also wish to thank my primary supervisor, Professor Majella Kilkey - without her guidance, support, suggestions and advice throughout my PhD studies, I would not have been where I am today. I also thank Dr Afua Twum Danso-Imoh my second supervisor. I also thank, my two kids, Adriel and Neariah who have had to endure whilst their daddy studied. I also wish to thank my mum (Elizabeth), my four brothers (Nana Kwame, Mebro, Kwabena) and their families for giving me the financial and moral support to undertake my PhD. I also wish to thank Professor Martin Ajei, who mentored me and advised me before and during my PhD journey. I wish to thank all my research participants especially Nii Kwei and Patron Adarkwah who made it possible for me reach other participants. I am very grateful for all your support. Lastly, I wish to thank my PhD colleagues Divine, Abdul, Fahad and Obert for their companionship. 4 Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... 4 Contents ................................................................................................................................................. 5 List of Tables ....................................................................................................................................... 10 List of Maps ......................................................................................................................................... 10 List of Documents ............................................................................................................................... 10 List of Pictures..................................................................................................................................... 10 List of Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1 – Introduction .................................................................................................................... 14 1.1 The Saliency of the Migration and Development Nexus ........................................................ 14 1.2 The Motivation for this Study .................................................................................................. 15 1.2.1 Why Ghanaian HTAs in the UK .......................................................................................... 18 1.3 Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 21 1.4 Structure and Outline ............................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 2 - A Review .......................................................................................................................... 24 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Historical Era (1950s-1960s) .................................................................................................... 26 2.2.1 The Neoclassical Economic School ..................................................................................... 26 2.2.2 The Historical Structural Schools ........................................................................................ 30 2.2.3 Summary of the Historical Era ............................................................................................. 32 2.3 The Mid-Era (1960s-1980s) ...................................................................................................... 34 2.3.1 The Developmentalist Model ............................................................................................... 34 2.3.2 Cumulative Causation Theory ............................................................................................. 36 2.3.3 Summary of the Mid-Era ..................................................................................................... 37 2.4 The New Era (1980s onwards) ................................................................................................. 39 2.4.1 The New Optimists .............................................................................................................. 39 2.4.2 The New Pessimism ............................................................................................................. 44 2.4.3 Summary of the New Era ..................................................................................................... 48 2.5 Post Structural Conceptual Arguments .................................................................................. 51 2.5.1 Foucault’s Governmentality Concept .................................................................................. 51 2.5.2 Postcolonial Theory ............................................................................................................. 52 2.5.3 Summary of the Post Structural Approach........................................................................... 54 2.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 56 Chapter 3 - Migration for Development Policies and Practices...................................................... 59 5 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 59 3.2 The International Development through Migration-for-Development Policies .................. 60 3.2.1 The World Bank’s K4D program ......................................................................................... 61 3.2.2 The United Nation (UN) and European Union’s (EU) JMDI-M4D Program ...................... 64 3.2.3 The United Kingdom