By Kodjo Adams/ Edward Dankwah
Accra, Aug. 25, GNA – Professor Stephen O. Kwankye of the Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, has called for a policy action to address issues of young migrants to and from Ghana.
He said over the years, the country had witnessed a great number of young migrants, including children below 10 years, which posed health and security challenges.
The Professor made the call on Thursday at a dissemination seminar in Accra on project research dubbed, “Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods: Unpacking Possibilities for Empowerment with Young Migrants in Ghana.”
The research was conducted by researchers from the University of Ghana, The University of Sheffield and the Anglia Ruskin University and funded by the British Academy Youth Futures Scheme.
The objective of the research project is to generate new knowledge about the livelihoods of young migrants in Ghana.
It also aims to understand better how social and cultural conditions and inequalities shape young migrants’ perspectives and experiences.
The research focused on decision making among young migrants, their aspirations, their livelihoods and their perspectives of power and empowerment.
A total of 59 young migrants from Ghanaians, Nigerians, Nigerians, Togolese, Cameroonians and a Burkinabe were engaged in the study of which 31 were males and 28 females.
From the findings, Prof Kwankye said there were a high degree of independent decision-making by many of the young migrants to embark on their migration journeys.
The findings revealed that family networks and supporting systems played a key role in the migration decisions among young people and that young migrants decisions to move were largely based on economic reasons.
The findings also revealed that poverty, inequality and various forms of vulnerabilities mediate young people’s aspirations and their imagined futures to migrate to countries.
The research showed that there was a disconnect between the aspirations of young migrants and those envisaged for them by policy makers, calling for critical reflection and consideration of policy options that captured their needs.
The Professor said the analysis of the young migrants’ accounts of power and empowerment raised critical questions about the meaning and utility of the terms to their living and working in precarious environment, poverty and disadvantaged.
Prof Kwankye said the outcomes of the work would be used to develop the understanding of empowerment in youth-centred approaches, including how these understandings could inform sustainable policy approaches that enhanced positive youth futures.
The team of researchers are Dr Grace Spencer, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, UK, Dr Jill Thompson, Social of Health Sciences, University of Sheffield, UK, Dr Ernestina Dankyi, Centre for Social Policy Studies, University of Ghana.
The rest are Dr Fanny Froehlich, Youth Co-Researcher, Anglia Ruskin University, Prof Virginia Morrow, Project Ethics Advisor.
GNA