Post-Migration Outcomes and the Decision to Return: Processes and Consequences

Abstract

This paper examines the decision-making processes of return migrants,
especially since the 2001 introduction of government programmes 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 interviews that primarily sought in-depth understanding of the
decision-making processes of the return migrants. The findings indicate that
these migrants were motivated by, among other factors, the availability of
investment opportunities in Ghana, completion of education abroad, loss of jobs
abroad, the decision to join family, feeling homesick and difficulty in integrating
abroad. The paper recommends that home country governments should develop
conducive policies appropriate for addressing the needs of the categories of
returnees based on their decisions for coming home and how their skills and
resources could be channelled into development.