Intra and Inter-Regional Female Migration and Their Effects on Household Food Security in the Upper West Region in Ghana

Abstract

The recent phenomenon of female migrants joining the migration stream has become a grave concern to many in the global world and Ghana in particular. Migration as a worldwide phenomenon continues to attract the attention of demographers and other social scientists. This study examined the extent to which intra and inter-regional migration of women affects household food security in the Upper West Region of Ghana. As a specific objective, this study examined household‘s food security, identified determinants of both female migration and household food security. To achieve these objectives, 240 female migrants‘ household heads were selected randomly from 12 communities in 4 districts and were interviewed. Both primary and secondary data were employed. Primary data was collected using interviews and focus group discussions. Secondary data was also collected from published and unpublished documents. Household food security was measured using the standard USDA 2007 scale. Those scoring less than six (6) out of the eleven questions were grouped under food secure and those scoring more than six (6) were classified as food insecure. The collected data was analysed using Statistical Package (SPSS Version 20). Regression model was used to reveal the factors influencing household food security. Out of the eleven variables, household income, household marital status, landownership, farm size, remittance and choice of migration were found to be significant at less than 5% probability level. Also the results from the hypothesis confirmed that households whose migrants go beyond the region (inter) are more likely to be food secure and contribute better to household food security as compared to those who go within the region (intra). The study revealed the push and pull factors of female migration in the selected communities and the category of women who migrate as well as the reasons for intra and inter-regional female migration; this included lack of economicopportunities, food shortages, erratic rainfall, and inadequate social amenities among others. The study concluded with some measures to mitigate migration as well as some recommendations to help reduce female migration from the study area and also ways to improve household food security.