Six in 10 Ghanaians Considering Emigration Amid Economic Challenges – Afrobarometer Survey
A recent Afrobarometer survey has revealed that six in 10 Ghanaians (61%) have considered emigrating, marking a significant 20-percentage-point increase compared to 2017, when the figure stood at 41%.
Per the survey, the share of respondents who have given “a lot” of thought to leaving the country has more than doubled from 20% to 44%.
The survey further indicates that emigration considerations are particularly prevalent among the youth and the highly educated.
Approximately 72% of Ghanaians aged 18-35 and 78% of those with post-secondary education have thought about leaving the country.
Unemployment remains a key driver of these sentiments, with 68% of unemployed individuals expressing thoughts of emigration. Part-time workers (65%) and full-time workers (63%) have also shown significant interest in relocating.
The primary reasons cited for considering emigration are the search for better job opportunities (55%) and escaping economic hardship (33%). Potential emigrants identified North America (55%) and Europe (24%) as their preferred destinations.
Supporting these findings, data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) place Ghana sixth among ECOWAS countries in terms of emigration rates.
The OECD further notes that while intra-African migration is often driven by lower-skilled labour, highly skilled and educated Ghanaians are increasingly drawn to OECD countries.
The rising interest in emigration, particularly among the youth and skilled professionals, reflects ongoing economic challenges and limited employment opportunities in the country.
