REINTEGR-ACTION Pilot Initiative to Test Feasible and Sustainable Joint Reintegration Measures from the EU REINTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIES IN GHANA FOR RETURNEES FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES Project funded by the European Return Fund under Community Actions 2010 and implemented by IOM Missions in Malta, Germany, the Netherlands and Ghana Partners: German Federal Office for Ministry for Home Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs National Disaster Migration and Refugees and National Security of the Netherlands Management Organization, of the Republic of Malta Ghana REINTEGR-ACTION. Reintegration Opportunities in Ghana for Returnees from European Countries REPORT CONTRIBUTORS Professor Sam Afrane (KNUST) Valentina Ami Amados (IOM) Samuel Yaw Akomea (KNUST) Michael Adusei (KNUST) K. Owusu Kwateng (KNUST) Emmanuel Quansah (KNUST) This publication was produced by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the research team from the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, within the framework of the project ”REINTEGR-ACTION – Pilot Initiative to Test Feasible and Sustainable Joint Reintegration Measures from the EU”. Funded by the European Return Fund under Community Actions 2010, the REINTEGR-ACTION project is implemented by IOM Missions in Malta, Germany, the Netherlands and Ghana, in cooperation with external partners: the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security of the Republic of Malta, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the National Disaster Management Organization of the Republic of Ghana and the Research and Counseling Foundation for African Migrants. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the IOM, the European Commission or project partners. Omissions and errors remain the sole responsibility of the authors. _____________________________________________________ © 2013 International Organization for Migration (IOM) _____________________________________________________ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Suggested citation: International Organization for Migration (2013). Reintegration Opportunities in Ghana for Returnees from European Countries. REINTEGR-ACTION – Pilot Initiative to Test Feasible and Sustainable Joint Reintegration Measures from the EU. 2 REINTEGR-ACTION. Reintegration Opportunities in Ghana for Returnees from European Countries TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................................7 LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................................7 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................. 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................. 10 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 11 1.1 Objectives of the Study…………………………………………………………........................13 1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.1 Data Required ....................................................................................................... 15 1.2.2 Data Sources and Instruments .............................................................................. 15 1.2.3 Sampling Techniques ........................................................................................... 15 1.2.4 Data Analysis ....................................................................................................... 16 1.3 Structure of the Report ................................................................................................................ 16 A. SECTION ONE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC CLIMATE ................................................................... 17 2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN GHANA ............................................................................. 17 2.1 Overview of Ghana’s Economic Environment ........................................................................... 17 2.2 Current Socio-Economic Developments ..................................................................................... 19 2.3 Interventions for Poverty Reduction ........................................................................................... 21 2.4 Informal Sector .......................................................................................................................... 23 2.5 Business Culture in Ghana .......................................................................................................... 23 2.5.1 The Concept of Family Business .......................................................................... 23 2.5.2 Business Networks ............................................................................................... 24 2.5.3 Bargaining or Haggling ........................................................................................ 24 2.5.4 Public Sector Procurement ................................................................................... 25 2.6 Institutional Support .................................................................................................................... 25 2.7 Cultural Considerations against Voluntary Return ..................................................................... 26 2.8 Socio-Economic Situation in Ghana: Implications for Returnees .............................................. 27 3. ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES ....................... 28 3.1 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in Ashanti Region ...........................................28 3.1.1 General Overview.................................................................................................28 3.1.2 Gaps and Opportunities.........................................................................................30 3.2 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in Brong Ahafo Region...................................35 3.2.1 General Overview.................................................................................................35 3.2.2 Gaps and Opprtunities...........................................................................................36 3 REINTEGR-ACTION. Reintegration Opportunities in Ghana for Returnees from European Countries 3.3 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in the Eastern Region......................................39 3.3.1 General Overview.................................................................................................39 3.3.2 Gaps and Opprtunities...........................................................................................40 3.4 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in the Western Region.....................................44 3.4.1 General Overview.................................................................................................44 3.4.2 Gaps and Opprtunities...........................................................................................45 3.5 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in the Greater Accra Region............................49 3.5.1 General Overview.................................................................................................49 3.5.2 Gaps and Opprtunities...........................................................................................50 4. LIST OF TEN BUSINESS INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTABLE IN SMALLER TOWNS ........... 52 5. EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPLY LINKAGES IN THE REGIONS ................................................ 53 5.1 Overview of Employment Opportunities in Ghana .................................................................... 53 5.2 Employment Opportunities in the Regions ................................................................................. 54 5.3 Opportunities for Supplies in the Regions .................................................................................. 61 B. SECTION TWO: AVAILABLE SOCIAL STRUCTURES IN GHANA .................................. 63 1. OVERVIEW OF GHANA’S POLICY IN THE FIELD OF READMISSION, RECEPTION AND REINTEGRATION OF RETURNING NATIONALS. ....................................................................... 63 1.1 Readmission, Reception and Reintegration Policy in Ghana ...................................................... 63 2.2 Social Structures in Ghana: Implications for Returnees ............................................................. 66 2. INSTITUTIONS, AGENCIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE REINTEGRATION OF RETURNEES. ...................................................................................................................................... 67 2.1 List of Institutions and Agencies that Could Assist Returnees in Finding a Job and Institutions with Potential Employment Opportunities for Returnees. ................................................................ 67 2.1.1