Migrating Under the USA Diversity Visa Programme: Intentions and Motivations of University of Ghana Students

Abstract

This study sets out to examine the migration intentions of university of Ghana students with respect to the USA Diversity Visa Lottery Program (DVLP). The study investigates the determining factors of migration intentions of students, drawing on their intention to participate in the DVLP. The study employed a methodological triangulation in data collection: a survey of 125 respondents and 7 in-depth interviews (5 students and 2 former University of Ghana students, resident in the USA through winning the DV program). The study draws on Lee‟s Push-Pull framework to show the pathway to the migration intentions of students. Overall, the study revealed that majority of University of Ghana students (71%) have intention to migrate from Ghana. The factors that motivate their intention to migrate are largely due to economic considerations; key among them is the search for employment opportunity. Beside this, is the desire of students to pursue their study abroad. The study finds out that students‟ assurance of securing employment upon completion of their study is a significant predictor of their migration intentions. That is, if a student is assured of getting a job here in Ghana upon completion of university education, then it is less likely that the student would intend to migrate abroad. The study finds out that a great majority of students (89%) know about the US Diversity Visa programme where more than half of them intend to participate in the program. Their intention to participate in the program is underlined by their expectations of securing employment and educational opportunities in the USA. The study reveals that although sections of the migration literature describe the migration of highly educated as a brain drain to sending countries, majority of university students see it as a survival strategy to mainly escape unemployment and also better their life including the pursuit of higher education abroad. Majority of students who could not have secured employment in Ghana and contributed to the development of the country could have employment and educational opportunity abroad and be able to meaningfully contribute to development through remittances as in the case of two participants of the study in the USA. The study therefore recommends that since the economy of Ghana cannot absorb all university graduates, creating a backlog of unemployed graduates in the country, policymakers should facilitate the migration of the excess labour to developed countries that can absorb them into their economy. Government of Ghana could therefore liaise with the USA and other developed countries such as Canada, Australia and Norway that may need such category of labour. This would enable migrants under this program to contribute meaningfully to Ghana‟s development by supporting their family through remittance and also importantly, reduce unemployment in the country.