INTERNAL MIGRANTS REMITTANCES AND ITS UTILIZATION IN HOUSEHOLDS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Internal migrant remittance in Ghana has been a neglected area of study for sometime now. This study investigated internal migrants’ culture of intra-national remittances and how those remittances were used by the internal migrants’ families in the Northern Region. In conducting the research, a survey method was used. A total of 160 returned internal migrants from 8 different communities in four districts were involved in the study. Both structured and semi structured interviews were employed to elicit data for the study. The data from the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test. The results of the study showed that internal migrants made use of friends and families and self-remitting more than any other channel of remittance. In addition, the result showed that there was a significant difference between male and female internal migrants’ remittances. Robbery, inconvenience and disclosure of remittance to relatives and friends were among some of the challenges faced by internal migrants. Internal migrants also preferred remitting cash to non-cash items. Families of the internal migrants used remittance for household food needs, education and health. It is recommended that internal migrants be educated to use formal channels of remittance such as banks and mobile money. Secondly, the study recommended the formation of a network of stakeholders (NGOs, DAs, financial institutions, and transport companies) to collect these remittances at the destination places while these recipient agencies make the remittances available to receiving families. This finding on the dynamics of internal remittances and its associated challenges is significant as it will inform policy formulation and implementation.