The Effects of Internal and International Migration on Left-Behind Children of Migrant, A Case Study of Akuse in the Lower Manya-Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of internal and international migration on left-behind children of migrant. A cross sectional study was carried which involved the collection of data using two structured questionnaires, purposive sampling was used to reach participants which included 70 caregivers, 20 left-behind children and 10 teachers of left-behind children. The findings revealed that most caregivers of left behind children of migrant parents are family members and friends ( mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers of migrant parents) Therefore left-behind children are taken care of by the family system rather than other systems like the commercial system. And majority (85% of the total respondents) of care givers are female which supports the claim in the literature review. The findings shows that the destination (internal and international) of the migrant parents didn’t have any critical and direct impact on the academic performance of left-behind children. 87% of parents of left-behind children migrated internally to the 13% migrating internationally. The responses didn’t show any different outcomes. The academic performance of left-behind children depended on the level of education caregivers. The findings also revealed that remittances alone was not enough for the care of left-behind children as 62% of the care givers used their personal savings with only 28% of caregivers receiving remittances which was in itself inadequate. Some migrant parents neglect their left-behind children because they had started a new family where they concentrate their attention. This situation adds burden to the caregivers who are sometimes forced to engage the children in petty trading in order to supplement their budget. However, 74% caregivers don’t regret taking up such responsibility but urged policy makers to establish more jobs for their family members who have migrated to get jobs. There is therefore the need for parents to be sensitized to take up their responsibilities in the care of their children no matter where they find themselves and the appropriate sanctions applied to those who refuse their responsibilities.