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Title Negotiating Return: Experiences of Ghanaian 'Trapped' Migrants in Libya, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Full text http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/38224
Date 2020
Author(s) Gyasi-Mensah, A.
Abstract PhD. Migration Studies - There is widespread concern about the number of Ghanaians who risk their lives by embarking on migration processes with the intention to enhance their economic outlook. Many of these migrants are often met with difficulties of return due to prevailing conditions at the place of location. Studies in the migration discipline have examined several aspects of the process of return migration. However, many of these studies have overlooked the aspect of migrants who are unable to return because they are heavily 'trapped'. This study attempts to bridge this gap in literature through a qualitative study of 'trapped migrants' of Ghanaian origin. This study sought to examine the phenomenon of 'trapped migration' from Ghana to Libya, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to bring out the nuances of the experiences of 'trapped migrants' and their struggle to return. The study employed a purely qualitative methodology obtaining samples of migrants to the said areas who were 'trapped' by using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. A total sample of 30 'trapped migrants' and information from GIS, IOM, as well as related studies were utilized constructively and interpretively in a thematic analysis. The study found that, data supports the existence of 'trapped migration' distinguished by the fact that 'trapped migrants' face extreme difficulties that thwart their every little effort to return. The characteristics of 'trapped migrants' showed that these were youthful individuals who were bidding their time for improved economic circumstances. The information they received about the prospects of the migration laid traps for their credulity because what they experienced when they migrated was not as palatable as the foreknowledge they received. They met episodes of undignified, dehumanizing, and abusive treatment, treatment essentially flouting fundamental human rights ' just for wanting to work and make money as immigrant workers. The journey by road from Ghana to Libya is clearly too risky for the kind of prospects that awaits successful travellers ' if they succeed. But at the crucial point where they wish to return, the conditions ' financial incapability, arrest and detention, seizure of travel documents, and so on ' would simply not let them. At the time of this study there were 9 out of the 30 'trapped migrants' who were still 'trapped'. Institutional effort to facilitate the return of the 'trapped migrant' was extremely limited. The study recommends the need for government to beware of the potential threat that 'trapped migration' presents to Ghanaians and demonstrate concern to address it. Ghanaian citizens abroad should be accorded the dignity, protection, and safety they deserve as citizens. Also, the government of Ghana should take steps towards bilateral and inter-regional agreements to protect Ghanaian migrants. Future studies should give objective and generalized accounts of the experiences of Ghanaians who are 'trapped' in migration using a more quantitative approach to find out the proportion of migrants who were assisted to return by other institutional efforts compared to those who returned by their own effort.
Subject(s) Ghana; Migration; Trapped Migration; Libya
Language en
Publisher University of Ghana
Type of publication Thesis
Format application/pdf
Repository Accra - University of Ghana
Added to C-A: 2022-08-24;14:14:54