Rural-Urban Linkages: The Case of Rural Migrants from Upper West Region to Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti Region, Ghana

Owusu Boampong,Hikimatu Lalaki Awudu,Nana Amma Anokye

doi:10.4314/gjds.v16i3.6

Abstract

In migration studies, research on backward linkages has received a lot of attention. However, research on rural-urban forward linkages is scanty. This article explored the forward linkages from rural households in the Upper West Region of Ghana to urban migrants in the mining town of Obuasi, which has a long history of attracting migrant workers. The study employed a qualitative research design using in-depth interviews to gather data from 26 respondents in Tizza, Kojokpere, Issa, Kaleo and Jang; and 13 urban migrants in Obuasi. Four focus group discussions were conducted in Obuasi to support and validate the in-depth interviews conducted in the rural communities. The study shows that the resource ows from Tizza, Kojokpere, Issa, Kaleo and Jang to urban migrants in Obuasi are in the form of social support, nancial and food transfers. The rural households view the resource ows as necessary for sustaining the livelihoods of their migrant family members and for maintaining aective ties. The study establishes that reverse ows put nancial and social burdens on rural households and this burden drains resources of rural households. Keywords : Forward Linkages, Livelihood Strategy, Migrants, Obuasi, Upper West Region

Highlights

Several studies on migration have focused on the ows of resources and support from urban migrants to rural household members, which are often referred to as backward linkages (Adjei, ; Ellis, ; Lindley, 8; Tanle & Abane, ; Yaro, 8)
Their study established forward linkage between close relations in the three northern regions and migrants at their destinations. They noted that while rural family members send their children to the urban migrants to be cared for, and for formal education and skills training, the children assist the migrants in their businesses and housework
As an expression of a ective ties between the rural household sender and the migrant recipients; second, it helps the migrant recipients to satisfy their cravings for the long-lost local delicacies and third reduces the recipient migrants’ expenditure on food purchases

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Several studies on migration have focused on the ows of resources and support from urban migrants to rural household members, which are often referred to as backward linkages (Adjei, ; Ellis, ; Lindley, 8; Tanle & Abane, ; Yaro, 8). There are few studies that have focused on the ows of resources from household members at the rural places of origin to migrants’ relatives at speci c urban destinations (forward linkages) (Frayne, 7; Mobrand, ; Scully, ; Tanle & Abane, ). Studies that have studied linkages between urban centres and rural areas highlight the ows embedded in such linkages to include the movement of people, goods, capital and other social transactions (Tacoli, 8b) These play a signi cant role in the livelihood of both rural and urban households (Tacoli, 8a)

LITERATURE REVIEW

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION