A GROWING number of Ghanaians are contemplating emigration, with economic difficulties driving many to seek opportunities abroad, according to the latest findings from an Afrobarometer survey.
The proportion of Ghanaians seriously considering leaving the country has surged in recent years, highlighting a significant shift in the nation’s outlook amid ongoing economic hardship. The Afrobarometer study, conducted in August 2024 and published on December 17, reveals that 61 percent of respondents have considered emigration, a substantial rise from 41 percent in 2017. Notably, the share of those who have given ‘a lot’ of thought to emigration has more than doubled, increasing from 20 percent to 44 percent.
Economic hardships spur emigration concerns
The key reasons behind this mass consideration of leaving the country include the search for better job opportunities (55 percent) and escaping economic hardship (33 percent). As Ghana faces challenges such as high unemployment rates and soaring living costs, citizens are increasingly seeking alternatives outside their homeland.
Among those most likely to contemplate emigration, young people, highly educated citizens, and the unemployed are particularly prominent. Around 72 percent of individuals aged 18-35 have thought about leaving the country, compared to 78 percent of those with post-secondary education. Even among the employed, a significant portion — 63 percent of full-time workers and 65 percent of part-time workers — have expressed the desire to emigrate.
Preferred destinations: North America and Europe
When it comes to destination preferences, North America emerges as the most popular choice, with 55 percent of potential emigrants preferring this region. Europe follows with 24 percent, highlighting a strong trend towards more developed economies as the preferred destinations for skilled and educated Ghanaians seeking a better life.
Ghana’s emigration rates are significant within the ECOWAS region, ranking sixth among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries. However, while migration within Africa often involves lower-skilled labour, highly educated individuals from Ghana tend to favour migration to OECD countries, which offer better economic prospects and career opportunities.
The impact of education and unemployment
Education plays a crucial role in shaping emigration decisions. The survey finds that Ghanaians with higher levels of education are far more likely to consider leaving, with 78 percent of those holding post-secondary qualifications contemplating emigration. This trend underscores the desire among highly educated individuals to escape economic limitations and seek opportunities that align with their qualifications and professional aspirations.
Equally telling is the impact of unemployment on emigration concerns. Over two-thirds of unemployed Ghanaians (68 percent) have thought about leaving the country, a figure that highlights the challenging economic environment faced by the jobless.
Afrobarometer’s findings on migration
The survey, led by Afrobarometer’s national partner, the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), interviewed 2,400 adult Ghanaians, offering a representative cross-section of the population. The findings paint a stark picture of the country’s economic struggles and the growing desire for change. With such a high proportion of the population considering emigration, the data reflects a broader sentiment of dissatisfaction and uncertainty regarding the country’s economic future.
Afrobarometer’s Ghana survey also sheds light on the demographic differences in attitudes towards emigration. In particular, younger Ghanaians, many of whom are struggling with high youth unemployment, appear particularly disillusioned. At the same time, a large portion of those with no formal education or primary education (56 percent) also reported considering leaving the country, indicating that economic hardship is a widespread issue affecting various sectors of society.
Commenting on the findings, David Kofi Asante-Darko, an analyst at Afrobarometer Ghana and the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) said, ‘Ghana is in default on its debt for the first time, we have had to face a severe debt restructuring programme. This has had negative consequences, not just on the economy but more generally on people’s opportunities.’
Increasing emigration trends in West Africa
Ghana’s emigration figures are part of a broader trend across West Africa, where rising economic challenges, coupled with political instability in certain areas, have prompted many to seek opportunities abroad. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently noted that Ghana ranks among the top countries in the region for emigration rates. However, while migration within the continent often involves lower-skilled labour, Ghanaians with advanced education are more likely to migrate to countries in North America and Europe, where job prospects align better with their qualifications.
For Ghana, the survey results highlight the urgent need for policymakers to address the systemic economic challenges that are driving a significant portion of the population to seek a better future elsewhere. Without substantial reforms and improved opportunities at home, this emigration trend is likely to continue, with the potential to impact the country’s workforce and development in the long term.
Looking ahead: a changing landscape
As Ghana enters a crucial period of economic transition, the survey data from Afrobarometer presents a call to action for the government and other stakeholders to focus on creating job opportunities, addressing economic inequality, and improving living standards. If the trends observed in this survey continue, Ghana could face a brain drain, where its most educated and skilled individuals leave for better prospects abroad, potentially undermining the country’s economic growth in the future.
With youth unemployment and economic hardship at the forefront of many Ghanaians’ concerns, the focus now turns to what measures the government will take to retain its citizens and ensure a brighter economic future. Whether these policies will be successful in curbing the trend of emigration remains to be seen, but the survey highlights the need for urgent action.
As Ghanaians increasingly consider emigration due to economic hardships, the trend of migration to North America and Europe continues to grow. With high unemployment and the quest for better economic opportunities driving this shift, the government faces the challenge of addressing these concerns in order to retain its citizens and prevent a potential brain drain.
