Coping strategies of independent child migrants from northern Ghana to southern cities.

Abstract

Based on analysis of data collected by the authors in an independent child migration survey in Accra and Kumasi carried out by the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) who are partners of the DFID-funded Development Research Centre on Migration Globalisation and Poverty this paper examines the coping strategies adopted by these independent child migrants with reference to their day-to-day living at the destination areas. The paper attempts to answer the following questions: What are the main reasons for the children staying in the destination areas? What risks are these child migrants exposed to? What coping/survival strategies do they adopt? The next section provides a brief overview of migration dynamics with reference to north-south child migration in Ghana. The following sections will then analyse the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the child migrants the risks they are exposed to and their coping strategies. We will conclude with some relevant policy implications and recommendations. (excerpt)