Abstract:
Linkages are the social and material links and networks that connect migrants
to their places of origin. Linkages are employed by migrants to sustain
relations as well as improve the socio-economic status of their places of origin.
It is against this backdrop that the study sought to assess origin-destination
linkages as livelihood strategy among migrants from the Northern, Upper East
and Upper West regions of Ghana who are resident in the Cape Coast
Metropolis. To accomplish this, a descriptive cross-sectional survey design
involving quantitative and qualitative approaches were adopted for the study.
The study was grounded in four theories: The New Economics of Labour
Migration (NELM), Migration Networks Theory, Migration Systems Theory
and Social Exchange Theory. A sample size of 297 was derived from a
population of 1,287 using Raosoft Calculator. A self-developed interview
schedule and interview guide were used for the data collection. The data were
analysed with both descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies and
Chi-square. The study revealed that majority of the migrants had some form of
linkages with their families at their places of origin. Some of these linkages
included attending funerals, cash remittances, non-cash remittances,
communication and child fostering. Further, the results showed that origin
destination linkages influence migrants’ livelihoods both positively and
negatively but the positives influence far outweigh the negative ones. It was,
therefore, recommended that the various forms of origin-destination linkages
be encouraged among migrants.
