Patterns in Child Migration in Ghana

Abstract

The phenomenon of migration in Ghana is not new. However, the involvement of children and especially, those migrating independent of their parents, is a recent phenomenon. Tracing the trajectories of the journeys children make in Ghana, reveals a north south pattern, similar to that of adults. Although migration of children to and within urban settlements in other regions has been observed to be significant, Accra (the national capital) and Kumasi (second largest city) remain preferred destinations of child migrants. This study involves interviews with 35 migrant children from the north east to the south of Ghana, over a period of three months. It identified cyclical, chain, step-wise and “leapfrog” migration as patterns of child migration in Ghana. Leapfrog migration emerged as a novel type of migration, where children leaped from an origin over an intermediate to a final destination. Although this new finding is exciting, it involved a small number of children. Therefore, more data is required for it’s validation. The study recommends recognition by local, regional and national policy and decision makers of the underpinning motivations for such journeys is crucial in order to minimise the associated risks, while optimising the advantages of the phenomenon in the country.

Keywords: patterns, child, leapfrog, chain, stepwise, migration