Mapping and Socio-Economic Profiling of Communities of Return in Ghana December 2018 IOM Ghana IOM – Ghana / Full Report / December 2018 This report has been produced with the financial support of the European Union (EU). The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the EU or the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations used and the presentation of all the contents of the report do not imply any expression on the part of the EU or the IOM concerning the legal status of a country, territory, city, or region, or their borders or boundaries. Neither the EU nor the IOM make guarantees, expressed or implied, on the accuracy or completeness of this report. In no event will they be liable for any loss, damage, liability, or expense incurred or suffered as a result of the use of this report, including, without limitation, any fault, error, omission, interruption, or delay in this regard. This report contains links to third party websites. Sites that can be accessed from these links are not managed or controlled by the EU or the IOM. The EU and IOM are therefore not responsible for the availability, content, or accuracy of any linked site or link contained within this initial link. These links are provided for informational purposes only and in no way constitute a recommendation or an invitation to use a service. The inclusion of any link does not imply any endorsement of the linked website by the EU or the IOM. IOM strongly believes that orderly migration, carried out in decent conditions, benefits both migrants and society as a whole. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM works with partners in the international community to address the practical challenges of migration, to better understand migration issues, to promote economic and social development through migration, and to promote effective respect for human dignity and the well-being of migrants. This report was commissioned by the Regional Office for West and Central Africa of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the research was conducted by Samuel Hall. The opinions expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of IOM. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of Samuel Hall. The report should be quoted in the following format: 2 Samuel Hall (2018). Community mapping of areas of return to Ghana, for the Regional Office for West Africa and the Centre of the International Organization for Migration. 3 Samuel Hall is an independent think tank providing research and strategic services, expert analysis, tailored counsel and access to local knowledge for a diverse array of actors operating in the world’s most challenging environments. We specialise in socio-economic surveys, private and public sector studies, and impact assessments for a range of humanitarian and development actors. With a rigorous approach and the inclusion of academic experts, field practitioners, and a vast network of national researchers, we access complex settings and gather accurate data. We bring innovative insights and practical solutions to addressing the most pressing social, economic, and political issues of our time. Samuel Hall has offices in Afghanistan, Kenya, and Germany. For more information, please visit www.samuelhall.org 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................... 5 2. LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................ 7 3. LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4. ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................... 9 5. GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................... 10 6. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 12 THE GHANAIAN CONTEXT ............................................................................................................... 12 IMMIGRATION, EMIGRATION AND RETURNS IN GHANA .................................................................. 12 CHALLENGES FOR IOM .................................................................................................................... 13 CONTEXT OF THE REPORT: WHAT ARE IOM’S PROGRAMMING OBJECTIVES IN GHANA? .................... 14 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................................... 15 Research objectives ..................................................................................................................... 15 CONSTRAINTS & LIMITATIONS ..................................................................................................... 17 AREAS OF INVESTIGATION .............................................................................................................. 18 7. ECONOMIC DIMENSION .............................................................................................................. 20 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNITIES ASSESSED .............................................. 21 Socio-economic profiles of Respondents (quantitative survey) ..................................................... 21 Financial situation, debts, and remittances .................................................................................. 22 Income and Indebtedness ............................................................................................................ 23 REMITTANCES AND MIGRATORY LINKAGES ..................................................................................... 24 LABOUR MARKET OVERVIEW ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. INCOME AND JOB SEARCH IN COMMUNITIES ASSESSED ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined. TYPOLOGY OF ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................ 26 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. SKILLS, GENDER, AND COMMUNITIES .............................................................................................. 29 DESIRED SKILLS ............................................................................................................................... 30 RECRUITMENT CRITERIA ................................................................................................................. 32 Entrepreneurship ........................................................................................................................ 34 Labour Market Interests .............................................................................................................. 34 8. SOCIAL DIMENSION ..................................................................................................................... 36 EDUCATION .................................................................................................................................... 36 National Context ......................................................................................................................... 36 Education Levels .......................................................................................................................... 37 Education and Migratory Profile .................................................................................................. 38 ACCESS TO SERVICES ....................................................................................................................... 41 Community level vulnerabilities ................................................................................................... 41 Vulnerability of Returnees ........................................................................................................... 42 9. PSYCHOSOCIAL DIMENSION ........................................................................................................ 44 Participation in groups and local organizations ............................................................................. 44 Social cohesion ............................................................................................................................ 45 Psychosocial dimension and mental health .................................................................................. 46 Locations envisaged .................................................................................................................... 48 THE EXPERIENCE OF MIGRATION ..................................................................................................... 48 Aspirations of leaving .................................................................................................................. 48 Motivations to leave ................................................................................................................... 52 Motivations for return ................................................................................................................. 53 5 Perceptions of returnees ............................................................................................................