Centre for Migration Studies
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Item Beyond the binary debates in migration: Experiences of Fulani nomads, sedentary Fulani, and autochthone farmers in Agogo, Ghana(Migration Studies, 2022) Setrana, M.B.; Kyei, J.R.K.O.; Nyarko, D.The contestations over land and pasture redefine broad, complex boundaries between three groups: autochthone farmers of Agogo, Fulani sedentary herders, and Fulani nomads. The broad boundaries have emerged into sub-categories between the sedentary Fulani and Fulani nomads who belong to the same ethnic group of Fulbe in West Africa. With growing population pressures and shrinking resources, the competition for land and livelihoods has fueled tensions among these groups. feeding a cycle of recurring violence. Extended qualitative fieldwork conducted in six communities in the forest transitional zone of Ghana reveals how these tensions are connected to emerging forms of self-categorisation and othering: developing positive attitudes of in-groups, while viewing others less favourably. This has produced a triadic relationship with varied claims to authority, space, and residential superiority. The indigenous farmers claim ownership of the land and demand the evacuation of both sedentary Fulani and Fulani nomads from the area. The secular Fulani claim they are not the troublemakers but that they are blamed for the encroachment and destruction of farms. The Fulani nomads resist assertions that they are dangerous and unapproachable, but intentionally remain aloof and outside. at the margins of Ghana’s legal authority.Item Promoting Peace and Managing Farmer-Herder Conflict: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Agogo, Ghana(African Studies Review, 2021) Setrana, M.B.Continued clashes between nomadic pastoralists and farmers generate concerns about the capacity of community-based civil society organizations to effectively navigate conflict resolution in Agogo Traditional Area (ATA), Ghana. The Agogo and Fulani associations ostensibly manage farmer-herder conflict but with mixed results. Setrana argues that, unlike foreign or international civil society organizations, community-based associations play important roles in managing conflict because they often have better cultural understanding. The success of such organizations, however, depends on whether they are perceived as indigenous or non-indigenous. This binary framework often leads to a winner-takes-all attitude and rarely results in sustainable conflict resolution.Item ‘These Days, Things Have Changed’: Historicizing Current Dynamics Of Climate-Related Migration In The Savannah Zone Of Ghana(Climate and Development, 2024) Xavier Jarawura, F.; Teye, J.K.; Kleist, N.; et al.While climate-related mobility has been part of life in Africa for centuries, existing literature on migration in the context of climate change, generally lacks a historical perspective. This paper historicises climate-related migration in the Northern Savannah Zone of Ghana, with specific focus on the Upper West Region, drawing on climate data, a survey of 403 households, and interviews a focus group discussions with farmers. It demonstrates that migration and mobility in the region are rooted in historical patterns established and reinforced through colonial and post-colonial governance. These patterns reflect inequalities created by past and present development policies as well as environmental factors. While environmental change intensifies existing migration patterns, it is It is difficult to isolate these effects from the economic, social, and political factors which also contribute to migration flows in the Savannah zone. We therefore conclude that migration flows are co-constituted by past and present governance practices, disparities, development policies, and social transformation as well as environmental factors. Analysis and policy narratives that attribute recent migration flows to climate change are simplistic and blur the effects of past and present structural inequalities and political engagement.Item Protecting Lives & Livelihoods: Interrogating The Abuse Of Human Rights In The Midst Of A Global Pandemic(Cogent Social Sciences, 2024) Botchway, T.P.; Owusu, L.P.This study attempts to review some of the measures countries implement to mitigate the upsurge of the Corona virus disease (Covid-19). It delves into how the Ghanaian The state abused its powers in the name of ‘protecting lives and livelihoods’. It focuses on the introduction and subsequent implementation of draconian measures that infringe on the rights of the citizen and how the state (government) abuses its authority under such conditions. The study uses Ghana’s implementation of COVID-19-related measures as a case. Thus, the various directives of the president and state agencies are reviewed. Key among the issues is the use of emergency powers as granted by 1992. Constitution of Ghana, and the introduction of executive instruments that ultimately curtailed citizens’ rights. The Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), Article 21 (4) (c) and (d), as well as Article 31 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, Section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), etc. are among some of the legal sources that are interrogated by the study. In addition, the ban on public gatherings (religious, social, and political) is questioned from the perspective of human and other related rights citizens enjoy. The study thus examines the rationale behind the use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic and how such exercise of powers affects the rights and freedoms of citizens (the very people that such exercise of power is meant for) to protect).Item Young people’s involvement in migration research – opportunities for (re)shaping research priorities and practices(Journal of the British Academy, 2023) Spencer, G.; Thompson, J.; Kwankye, S.O.; et al.Young people are frequently involved in research about their own lives and their con tributions to the shaping of research priorities increasingly valued. Recently, young people’s participation in research has been extended to advisory group roles including supporting the planning, design and delivery of projects. Such involvement marks an important shift towards valuing young people’s views on how research should be conducted and is often required as part of research funding processes. In this article, we explore the value and contribution of young people’s involvement in a research project focusing on the livelihoods of young migrants in Ghana and the related possibilities for empowerment. Our collaborations remind us of the pitfalls of working from an adult centric lens, and how this may inadvertently contribute to the reproduction of adult ways of understanding young lives. Here, our project Young Person Advisory Group members share their experiences of being youth advisors – highlighting both challenges and opportunities for young people’s meaningful involvement in research.Item Citizenship, Belonging and Crisis-Induced Returns of Ghanaian Migrants from Côte d’Ivoire(AHMR African Human Mobilty Review, 2023) Kandilige, L.; Yeboah, T.; Abutima, T.K.The socio-economic embeddedness of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) foreign nationals and migrants in Côte d’Ivoire has been amply described. Despite previous episodes of political violence and the somewhat recent anti-immigrant policies, Côte d’Ivoire has served and will continue to serve as a haven for foreign-born populations of ECOWAS nationals and Ivorian-born descendants of foreigners. This paper draws on the notion of citizenship and belonging, and qualitative data gathered through interviews to explore the experiences of returned Ghanaian migrants who were victimized and trapped in a conflict situation in Côte d’Ivoire in 2002–2003 and 2010–2011. All interviews were transcribed fully, and the reflexive thematic coding and analysis technique was employed to analyze the qualitative data. The findings show that despite playing a passive role as perpetrators of the violence, Ghanaian migrants experienced harassment, intimidation and physical attacks, which in turn contributed to traumatic feelings beyond the crisis period. While the notion of citizenship and belonging facilitated migrants’ easy entry to Ghana upon return, they had to navigate multiple challenges, including hostile attitudes of militants, rebels and vigilante groups at border checkpoints, extortion of cash and other material possessions. Re-integration and resettlement were further exacerbated due to their experiences. These findings have important implications for emergency responses to situations of migrants being caught up in crisis.Item They'd beat us with whatever is available to them’: Exploitation and abuse of Ghanaian domestic workers in the Middle East(International Migration., 2021) Kandilige, L.; Teye, J.K.; Setrana, M.; Badasu, D.M.Generic accounts of pervasive cases of exploitation and abuse against migrant domestic workers in the Middle East exist in the extant literature. However, very little is known about the breadth, depth and gendered nature of abuses experienced by female migrants from especially the sub-Saharan African region. Abuses of the rights of sub-Saharan Africans are under-represented and under-theorised. This paper interrogates the question what is the nature, extent and severity of exploitation and abuse against female Ghanaian domestic workers in the Middle East? Using data from mixed-methods research, this paper adopts the framework of structural, symbolic and interpersonal violence to examine the range of abuses against domestic workers and the context within which these abuses take placeItem Critical migration policy narratives from West Africa(Wiley, 2022) Teye, J.K.Although there are contesting perspectives on migration, there is little understanding of how narratives of various policy actors shape migration governance in West Africa. This paper relies on a desk- review and qualitative data to examine the narratives that shape migration policy formulation and outcomes in West Africa. The findings indicate that while various stakeholders have been championing divergent narratives on migration, programmes that have been adopted by West African countries to manage migration have largely been based on the narratives of political elite and international development partners, although there were situations where these narratives were not sup-ported by any strong evidence. While early views on the impacts of international migration portrayed it as a threat to socio-economic development, more recent narratives have recognized the potential of migration to contribute to socio-economic transformation. Consequently, various West African countries are developing policies to harness the benefits of immigration, emigration and return migration for socio-economic development.Item Nutritional Knowledge and Dietary Intake Habits among Pregnant Adolescents Attending Antenatal Care Clinics in Urban Community in Ghana(Hindawi, 2021) Appiah, P.K.; Korklu, A.R.N.; Bonchel, D.A.; Fenu, G.A.; Yankey, F.W.Introduction. Proper nutrition during pregnancy is important for the wellbeing of the mother and foetus and supports health during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. However, there are little data on nutritional knowledge and dietary intake among adolescents who are pregnant in Ghana. Hence, the study assessed the nutritional knowledge and eating habits of this vulnerable group in the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipality, Ghana. Methods. ,e study was cross-sectional and employed a multistage sampling technique to select 423 participants. ,e study was conducted between October and November 2019. A statistical software was used to analyse data and employed Pearson’s chi-square and logistics regression to assess associations between the outcome and predictor variables. A p value <0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Results. Less than half (44.9%) of the pregnant adolescents have high nutritional knowledge. About 19.4% of them have good eating habits, while 23.9%, 18.2%, and 6.4% of them do not take breakfast, lunch, and supper, respectively. However, 15.6%, 13.9%, and 9.2% do take snacks after breakfast, lunch, and supper, respectively. About 55.9%, 59.8%, and 23.0% do not take their breakfast, lunch, and supper on time, respectively. Additionally, only 3.8% of them do take fruits and vegetables daily, while 9.7%, 23.2%, 30.0%, and 26.5% of them do take animal products, energy drinks, carbonated drinks, and legumes/nuts/seeds daily, respectively. ,e study showed that educational level (p = 0.014), occupation (p = 0.016), ethnicity (p = 0.017), and number of pregnancies (p = 0.021) were associated with good eating habits. Conclusion. Eating habit of adolescent pregnant women was not encouraging. Therefore, the municipal health authority with the concerned stakeholders should intensify efforts, including nutritional education to improve good eating habits, such as taking snacks in between meals, eating on time, and balance diet among pregnant adolescents, and to reduce adolescent pregnancy in the municipality.Item Citizenship, Indigeneity, and the Experiences of 1.5- and Second-Generation Fulani Herders in Ghana(2021) Setrana, M.B.Issues of indigeneity and citizenship rights for second-generation pastoralist migrants across the West African States have received little to no attention in migration and pastoralist studies. This article explores this under-researched area in the field of mi gration studies and revisits the highly contested migration–citizenship nexus among Fulani herders in the Shai-Osu-Doku and Agogo traditional areas of Ghana. The article captures the crises of citizenship facing descendants of Fulani herders and families, par ticularly in relation to their integration into local host communities. I argue that second generation migrants remain at the margins, spatially and socio-politically defined, of both development and society. While they do not have any ties with their ancestral “home countries,” they are also considered non-citizens and face growing hostility in the places they call home. Being a citizen is not simply a static legal position, but a status developed through routine practices, building relations, and shared experiences.