EMPOWERING RETURNEE MIGRANTS: THE CASE OF “KAYAYEI” IN THE KUBORI COMMUNITY OF THE MAMPRUGU MOADURI DISTRICT OF GHANA

Abstract

This project employed an action research design focused on the pre-intervention, intervention and post intervention processes to empower 20 returnee migrants (Kayayei) in the Kubori community. Specifically, the project sought to identify the reasons for out migration and the challenges that the migrants faced, reorient the returnee migrants to identify potentials in the communities and to build their capacities in the communities on skill development, as well as measure the effect of the returnee-migrants orientation programme on the livelihoods of the returnees. It was found that the main drivers of north-south migration by the girls of the Kubori community were lack of alternative job opportunities, ascribed witchcraft, household level conflict, and force marriages. Migrants mostly faced the problem of poor accommodation, rape and health hazard due to exposure to the weather and work environment. The study also concludes that an orientation programme made of effective counseling as well as technical training on business management skills and good agronomic practices to returnee migrants affected positively their welfare in terms of raising self-esteem, increasing incomes and expenditure, improving their savings for investment as well as improving their health status. The study recommends among others that the government and other social service providers device alternative sources of livelihood for the people in the Kubori community. The returnee migrants could be supported with equipment and inputs to practice dry season gardening at the banks of the White Volta which is closer to the community. More action research should be conducted with other returnee migrants in order to identify and solve their challenges to effectively eradicate the practice of north south migration among the youth of the Kubori community.