MOBILITY DYNAMICS OF TRANSMIGRATION FROM THE NKORANZA SOUTH MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA - Key Policy Messages

Aug 26, 2026

Policy brief examining mobility dynamics of transmigration from Nkoranza South Municipality in Ghana, highlighting how migration functions as a livelihood coping strategy for many households. Findings show most outmigration goes to destinations outside the study region, with a substantial share moving to other Ghanaian regions and over 95% of migrants targeting Libya. Employment and economic opportunity dominate migration motivations, while translocal ties through family, households, and friends sustain mobility and even involve transit to Europe.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Key Policy Messages

Introduction

The Findings

Migrant Destination

Migration to Other African Countries

POLICY BRIEF, 2025 MOBILITY DYNAMICS OF TRANSMIGRATION FROM THE NKORANZA SOUTH MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA Key Policy Messages 􀁸 Migration is important livelihood coping strategy to many households 􀁸 Majority of outmigration are to destinations outside the region of study 􀁸 Libya reminds the popular destination to outmigration to other African country and is characterized by the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea to Spain and Italy 􀁸 People migrate predominantly for employment and economic opportunities 􀁸 A large majority of transmigrants have visited the place origin in the past one year prior to the study @D. Andre INTRODUCTION Migration is an important livelihood coping strategy explored by many households/individuals across the globe (Gautam & Andersen, 2016) . Globally over 763 million people migrated within countries compared with 281 million people who migrated across international borders (IOM, 2024) . Migration within the West African region involves about 7.5 million persons; the figure represents more than seven times migration from the West African region to other parts of the world. The foregoing highlights the dominance of internal/regional migration or migration across international borders. Human migration is seen as an important feature that shapes the dynamics of human population in both the place of origin and destination. An array of reasons account for migration of people migrate, including the search for employment, livelihood and economic opportunities, education, escape from rural poverty, violence, environment and climatic conditions (Dako-Gyeke et al., 2020; Dinbabo et al., 2021) . Similarly, poverty has been identified as oneof the major factors influencing migration from and within Africa. People migrate to get better opportunities at the destination, meaning people with limited livelihood options are the most likely to migrate for employment and other socio-economic opportunities. Although there have been several debates about migration from the both pessimist and optimist perspectives, most of the arguments have often centered on whether migration should be prevented or harnessed, brain drain or brain gain, modernization or dependency, etc. The positive outcome of migration have been established as critical to many households and individuals and broadly contribute development beyond territorial boundaries due to their linkage to different facets of development at the area of origin, destination, and the migrants (International Organisation for Migration, 2020) . Several studies (e.g.,Steinbrink & Niedenführ, 2020) have reported temporal or seasonal migration where migrants maintain a dual identity of living and working in both the place of origin and destination. Premised on the foregoing, translocality was adopted for the study. Translocality encapsulates the understanding of phenomena involving migration, mobility, networks and spatial connectedness which are not limited to geographical areas (Djurfeldt, 2021) . The concept provides a comprehensive approach to understanding urban and rural development or the origin and destination of migrants as a single unit. Transmigrant is a person (migrant) who maintain a dual identity of living or working in both the place of origin and destination (Steinbrink & Niedenführ, 2020) . Despite the importance of transmigration to livelihood and wellbeing many households there is limited focus on the dynamics of this form of migration in Africa and Ghana. This paper explored the mobility dynamics of transmigration from the Nkoranza South Municipal area in Ghana. The municipality was purposively selected as it is among the top outmigration hotspots in the Bono East region and Ghana. Using data collected from 443 transmigrants households from the municipality, the study examined the dynamics and manifestation of transmigration and their implications on socioeconomic development. THE FINDINGS Migrant Destination Two-thirds (66%) o

FAQs

Why do households and individuals migrate in the study area?

Migration is described as an important livelihood coping strategy, with people moving mainly for employment and economic opportunities and related socio-economic prospects.

Where do most migrants from Nkoranza South Municipality go?

Two-thirds (66%) migrate to destinations outside the Bono East region, with the Ashanti region receiving the largest share of migrants after Bono East.

What role does Libya play in migration destinations?

More than 95% of migrants to other African countries go to Libya, which is also characterized as involving perilous Mediterranean crossings and serves as a transit point toward Spain, Italy, and other European countries.

Aug 26, 2026

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