Post-migration outcomes and the decision to return: processes and consequence on development

Mary Setrana, University of Ghana

Who and why return and its impact on development have received less attention in African migration literature. Therefore this paper examines migration and return decisions in the Ghanaian context, especially, since the introduction of government programmes in 2001 to encourage the return of skilled migrants who have the capacity to contribute their quota to the development agenda of Ghana. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on the migration trajectories of 120 return migrants. This was followed by in-depth-interviews which primarily sought in-depth understanding on the decision making processes. The findings indicate that these migrants were motivated to return for two main reasons, namely, economic and social reasons. The paper concludes that pre-migration intentions may not always march with real migration outcomes because a lot of obstacles or opportunities may compel the migrants to adjust their initial plan. These processes have impact on the development of the nation after their eventual return.