CENTRAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

FACULTY OF ART AND SOCIAL

SCIENCE

PROJECT WORK
TOPIC
DETERMINANTS OF RURAL URBAN MIGRATION IN A
DEVELOPING ECONOMY
CASE STUDY: GHANA

MOSES KOFI AMUZU

ECS/06/01/0767

SUPERVISOR
MR JUSTICE AMPIAH
CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION-----------------------------------------------------------------

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY----------------------------------------

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM--------------------------------------------

1.3 GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY------------------------

1.4 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE---------------------------------------------

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY-------------------------------------

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION--------------------------------------------

1.8 METHODOLOGY-----------------------------------------------------

1.7 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY---------------------------------------

1.9 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY--------------------

1.10 CONCLUSION------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 INTRODUCTION-----------------------------------------------------------------

2.1 THEORITICAL LITERATURE--------------------------------------------

2.1.2 OVERVIEW OF RURAL URBAN MIGRATION------------------------------

2.1.3 BRIEF HISTORY----------------------------------------------

2.1.4 NATURE OF GHANAIAN URBANIZATION------------------------------

2.1.4 THE PUSH PULL FACTOR----------------------------------------

2.1.5 DETERMINANTS OF MIGRATION/LOW LEVEL EQULIBRUIM TRAP--------

2.1.6 GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON URBAN MIGRATION-----------------------

2.1.7 STRATEGIES FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT---------------------------------

2.1.8 EMPERICAL REVIEW-------------------------------------------

 CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 INRODUCTION

This is the first chapter of the resear4ch work designed to illustrate the Background of the

study, statement of the problem, General and specific objectives of the study, significance

of the study, Resarch question, Methodology and some explanation of certain issues, then

the concluding work of the study.

1.1BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The past few decades have witnessed a rapid pace of urban population concentrations in

the developing countries of west Africa and else where.

In Ghana for example the urban population in 1960s was 23 percent of the total

population. The proportion increase by almost 10 percent 32 percent in 1984(statistical

service of Ghana, 1988).This has engendered both scholarly and policy interest and

concerns. The concerns has emanated from the fact that the bulk of the urban population

is constituted of migrants from rural areas and small towns in the countryside. The loss of

rural population to urban centers is often bemoaned for its implied averse effect on rural

development. The empirical data have revealed that migration is generally selective of

the young, versatile, and/or better educated members of the community. This creates a

form “brain drain” on the rural populations.

At the points of destination, deleterious consequences of rural-urban migration have been

noted. With the demand for urban migration, amenities exceeding their supply, the urban

areas often become spectacles of multifarious problems such as overcrowding,

congestion, inadequate housing, high rates of unemployment and underemployment,

crime and other forms of delinquency. The quality of life at both the areas of origin and

destination are, therefore, significantly affected.

Migration from the urban places of Ghana is therefore caused by individuals and families

seeking better economic opportunities to improve the quality of their lives. Secondary

determinants are varied, ranging from family obligations to the quest for adventure.

The benefits of migration for the rural areas lie mainly in returned migrants’

contributions to the economic development of those areas. Migrants also contribute to the

urban areas’ economic development, but their presence in large numbers has caused

problems in the housing and in the delivery of social services. Rural development policies

and land settlement schemes have been unsuccessful, due mainly to the lack of a

comprehensive national development effort.

Over the years, the relevance of migration, the rationale for migrating, and the policy

response to migration patterns and magnitudes have dominated academic and policy

discussions.
International migration has immense significance for many countries. For typical

developing countries – especially those in sub-Saharan Africa – however, internal

migration is of equal, if not, greater importance. Given that the rural-urban categorization

is the major spatial grouping in sub-Saharan African countries, and that urbanization in

these countries is on the rise, it is hardly surprising that rural-to-urban migration has

dominated the countries’ internal migration research.

The present study augments the developing countries’ migration literature by examining

– for Ghana –both rural-to-urban and urban-to-rural migration.

The main purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of Ghana’s Inter –sectoral

migration on migrants’ welfare. In pursuit of this, we also explore migration patterns and

factors that influence migration decisions.

Share (%)of population Share(%)of population

Migrants status (1991/1992) (1998/1999)

In-migrant 37.57 34.70
Return-migrant 16.51 15.08
Non-migrant 45.91 50.22
Total 100.00 100.00

In terms of an origin-destination classification, the data suggest that rural-to-rural and

urban-to-rural forms of population movement dominate Ghana’s internal migration. For

example, in 1991/92, 17.1 percent of Ghana’s population was rural-to-rural migrants and

15.5 percent were urban-to-rural migrants, whereas urban-to-urban and rural-to-urban

migrants constituted 12.4 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.

The pattern of internal migration in 1998/99 was not very different from that of 1991/92;

urban-to-rural migrants accounted for 16.6 percent of the population, whilst rural-to-rural
and urban-to-urban migrants represented 14.4 percent and 10.9 percent of the population,

respectively.

It is important to note, however, that in both 1991/92 and 1998/99, the majority of

persons migrating to Ghana from other countries were return-migrants.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research is to attempt to find out what constitute the determinants of urban migration

in Ghana. Also, there is a need to consider why people migrate from one place to the

other.

Under the statement of the problem, there are various determinants of rural urban

migration. Some question has been posed on this topic. Frequently asked question on

what factors contribute to rural urban migration.

The following are some major questions need to be asked

(a) Do migrants leave their geographic region in other to seek greener pastures?

(b) Why are people always migrating from one region- to- another

(c) Do migrants contribute to the economic welfare in the region he/she is migrating

to?

In other to answer these basic questions or address certain issues why people migrate in

developing country (Ghana), there is self awareness that life in the city is highly
developing .In other words, people believe moving from one region would allow them

acquire some units of satisfaction. It has been noticed that lack of social amenities,

example, good road, electricity, good hospitals, standard farming equipments

etc.hinders /retrogress the growth of those in the rural communities. Base on assumption,

it is belief that 90% of inhabitants in the rural sector would be glad if given the

opportunity to relocate to the city.

As a result of migrations, developing countries, however has determine to increase

growth in the cities, thereby strengthening banks, school, small scale enterprise,

sponsoring medium scale farmers etc. In the city, it is belief that government spend more

on development process than that of rural areas .Base on this factors, people migrate from

region-to-region in other to seek greener pastures for their wellbeing.

Life in the rural areas is one of the diverse reasons why people commit suicide. In this

region, base on statistics, it is illustrated that there are high mortality rate (no gain for

leaving), high birth rate, high rate of poverty, rape etc

However, as the rate of illiteracy increase in this region, people move into farming, life

stocking, fishing etc as an alternative for sustenance.

There are various problems engaged in rural areas. Due to this illustration, rural urban

migration has been a major factor in developing countries. The fact that the crime rate of
the city exceeds that of the rural areas, people are still migrating due to

underdevelopment in this region (Rural areas)

Migrants believe so much in the cities, this is the fact that the city is well developing, and

by this they could migrate in order to acquire skills, jobs etc Migrants believe Economic

resources tend to be more in utilization in the cities, thereby if government can work one-

one with local chiefs their could be a c gradual development at the rural areas. It is belief

that migrants have no positive impact on the development of the economy, rather they

overpopulate the cities, were some are seen in armed robbery, piracy and all criminal

aspect.

1.3 GENERALOBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

• To determine the cause of rural urban migration

• To examine the basic unique reasons why people migrate.

• To what extent do people rely or belief that the cities are more developed than the

urban areas.

• The need to educate migrants who seek greener pastures outside their region.

• To suggest solution to reduce migrants overpopulation in the cities.

• To illustrate how government can implement growth in rural areas

1.4 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The main Objective of the study is to identify the determinants of rural urban migration

in various regions in Ghana; specifically

• Illustrate reasons why people prefer to migrate to the city

• Outline the causes of migration from rural areas

• Provide adequate recommendations to Policy makers, regional heads on how they

can curb the increase of rural urban migration in Ghana

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

• The study is significantly relevant because it lays certain foundation for the

development or improving the rural sectors in order to achieve growth locally.

• The study helps in broaden the knowledge and technical know-how or rather

expertise of various profession in rural areas.

• To enable the economy develop in rural areas and their by contribute positively to

economic development.

• To analyze economic differences between the rural areas and the cities. Also

providing relevant information on the need to develop rural areas.

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION

The following seek to undergo the following question:

• How will government reduce migrations of rural urban countries? in the case of

development

• What determines movement of people from one region to another?

• Are there no jobs or establishment that would better the life of migrants in their

rural areas?

• What are the positive and negative impacts of migrants in a developing country

who seek greener pastures?

1.7 METHODOLOGY

Primary Data

Primary data was ascertained from individual sampling questionnaire and interviews of

habitants in the rural areas in Ghana. Also data from city migrants was adopted.

Secondary Data

Statistical records were obtained from the Ghana statistical board, regional chiefs, and

organizations in the communities. Other relevant Information was derived from News

paper, magazine and daily news from T.V Stations.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

The study has been put into five (5) chapters; chapter one (1) which introduces the study,

which includes the statement of the problem, objectives of the study, significance of the

study, the research question, methodology, organization of the study and scope of the

study.

1.9 THE SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study covers the determinants of rural urban migration from one region to another in

Ghana. Illustration on factors that gives migrant the drive to seek greener pastures else

were. The study would be narrowed in the regional movements of people within the

nation. The study will link Government policies to reduce migrations and stimulate

development in rural areas.

1.10 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it is believe that the rural sites are being faced with economic hardship on

farming process, which would lead to low harvesting of crops. Based on this, developing

countries can sit up if financing of small scale business increases, this would cause a “Big

push” in the Agricultural sector. Basically, if Government would stimulate local business,

and improve technological equipments, there chances of a reduce migration in rural areas.

CHAPTER TWO
1.0 Introduction

The literature review is divided into two segments, Theoretical and empirical reviews.

The first segment reviews the main theories of rural-urban migration in general. The next

segment covers the past and present works of the empirical determinants of rural urban-

migration in a developing country.

It also entails practical literature on the subject.

2.1 Theoretical Literature

Practical evidence has been derived and facts have been tested to elaborate the main

reasons or determinants of rural urban migration in developing countries like Ghana.

2.1.2Overiew of Rural Urban-migration

Rural-urban migration is one of the string forces retrogressing economic growth in

developing countries. The rate at which migrants seeks greener pastures, incorporates one

of the major reasons why policies to stimulate urban growth is necessary.

Basically, rural urban migration is seen as a situation where some specific people of a

developing country seek greener pastures, or a way to better their life in the cities.

In this scene, rural urban migration has limited factors to economic growth and

development Increase of migrants in the cities, base on seeking greener pastures, would

cause a conflicting role of population growth in the development process.

The rate at which migrants move to the cities has no economic impact but a retrogressive

influence on economic growth. Migrants contribute to population growth in the cities

thereby causing stagnation. Stagnation in the sense of low economic growth (in terms of

GDP growth) in the sense that it’s lower than potential growth as estimated by experts in

macroeconomics

.In other words, population growth can be both as a stimulus and an impediment to

growth and development. Urban migration which is seen as retarding force to

development in cities; thereby developing countries are concerned with the common view

that rapid population growth presents an obstacle to the growth of living standards.

The argument in a nutshell is that rapid population growth contributed by migrant’s

movement to the cities acts as a barrier to capital accumulation and capital Deepening,

retards the rate of productivity, growth and, in general, adds more to the numbers to be

supported than to the level of output.

A fairly theoretical remark, representation of the pessimistic school of population

economist is that of Enkes.

The economic danger of rapid population growth due to migration lies in the consequent

inability of a country both to increase its stock of capital and improve its state of art

rapidly enough for it’s per capital income not to be less than it otherwise would be.

If the rate of technological innovation cannot be forced, and is not advanced by faster

population growth, a rapid proportionate growth in population added by migrants can

cause an actual reduction in income per capita.

2.1.3 Brief History

Records have shown that No part of Ghana, however, is ethnically homogeneous. Urban

centers are the most ethnically mixed because of migration to towns and cities by those in

search of employment. Rural areas, with the exception of cocoa-producing areas that

have attracted migrant labor, tend to reflect more traditional population distributions.

One overriding feature of the country's ethnic population is that groups to the south who

are closer to the Atlantic coast have long been influenced by the money economy,

Western education, and Christianity, whereas Gur-speakers to the north, who have been

less exposed to those influences, have came under Islamic influence. These influences

were not pervasive in the respective regions, however, nor were they wholly restricted to

them.

2.1.4 Nature of Ghanaian urbanization

Large agglomerations of settled communities existed in Ghana and other parts of Africa

prior to the continent's domination by European colonial powers in the nineteenth

century. It has been noted that the Ashanti capital of Kumasi, for instance, was large and

densely populated in the eighteenth century (Liebenow, 1986; Bascum, 1955). Many of

the early settlements served as tribal and religious centres. Although some exhibited the

characteristics of the city as a community of a relatively dense population ...with or

without manufacturing, but with some form of interdependence and specialization of

functioning" (Walton & Cams, 1973: 1), they did not completely live off an agricultural

hinterland.
They were part of the agricultural hinterland and catered largely to peasant

agriculturalists and craftsmen. Social and economic activities were organized mainly on

kinship and familial lines.

The settlements were, therefore, essentially the "preindustrial" type. Colonial rule and the

intensification of European investments and economic activities saw the growth of 'new'

towns and the decline of some of the old ones. The new viable towns, such as Accra,

Tema, Kumasi, Sekondi- Takoradi, Obuasi,and Tamale is mining, administrative, trade or

commercial centres. Since the colonial era, and especially after World War II, the

Ghanaian population has generally experienced a very rapid growth. The country's

population increased from 6,726,815 in 1960 to 13,391,076 in 1987 (Statistical Service of

Ghana, 1988).

Better nutrition, improvements in personal hygiene, health care, the control and

eradication of several infectious and contagious diseases were instrumental in this

development while the towns have benefited from natural population increase, the influx

of people from the surrounding territories and rural hinterland has even been more

dramatic. Migration has remained the major source of growth for the towns and cities

(Liebenow, 1986; Frazier, 1961)

2.1.4 The Push-Pull Factors

Ghana, like many other developing countries, suffers from the problem of uneven

development and distribution of basic social amenities between rural and urban areas.

Facilities for higher education, quality health care, major sports and entertainment

facilities, telecommunication, and the modem economy, are all centralized in the regional

and national capital cities. The dualism and disparities, themselves legacies of the

colonial administration, still persist after more than three decades of political

independence and implementation of numerous lofty rural development programmes by

different national governments. The building of better roads and transportation systems

has only served to facilitate migration from the rural areas. In Ghana, as in other African

countries, the disparities in the distribution of resources help to explain this phenomenon.

Most of the rural-urban migrants of today move in response to the "push" from the

vagaries of rural living and the "pull" of Western industry, commerce, and "bright lights"

of the urban areas (Caldwell, 1969; Frazier, 1961).

The educated person in Ghana is perceived as someone who belongs to the city

(Caldwell, 1969). It has been said that the school curricula have undermined the

traditional rural order by failing to teach the requisite skills for adaptation to the

indigenous social environment. Educations at all levels have orientated the recipients to

town-life. However, the lack of prestige for farm work, the social degradation and stigma

associated with rural living, lack of appropriate jobs, and the dearth of social amenities

there affect the "educated" and the "uneducated" alike.

The social background of the rural-urban migrant population in Ghana is therefore mixed.

It is made up of people with different preparations for city life.

2.1.5 Determinants of migration/low level equilibrium trap

It is believe that developing countries are faced with low level equilibrium trap. A low

level equilibrium trap is a situation were by a country finds itself in a poverty striking era,

caused by increase in population growth, thereby leading to dis-savings and low

investment.
An increase in rapid population growth also causes increase in rural urban migration in

developing countries. There are two main interrelated reasons why rapid population

growth may be regarded as a retarding influence on development.

Firstly, rapid population growth may not permit a rise in per capital incomes sufficient to

provide savings necessary for the amount of capital formation for growth.

Secondly if population growth outstrips the capacity of industry to absorb new labour,

either urban unemployment will develop or rural underdevelopment/rural urban

migration to the cities will be exacerbated, depressing productivity in the agricultural

sector.

Models of the low-level equilibrium trap attempt to integrate population and development

theory by recognizing the interdependency between population growth, per capital

income, and national income growth. This type of model, which originated in the 1950s,

is designed firstly to demonstrate the difficulties that developing countries may face in

achieving a self-sustaining rise in living standards and secondary to provide points to

policy action.

Capital Formation

Capital formation takes place through saving and new land brought into cultivation. Due

to rising population growth, urban migration increase and thereby leads to disaving,and

low investment, which would imply pressure on government to take drastic measure for

and cultivation and development.

Developing countries with rising population faces disavings and reduced land cultivation.

This situation is related to urban migration, because due to underdevelopment in rural

areas, migration to the city would increase in other to look for greener pasture

2.1.6 Government policies on urban migration

Base on the words of Honorable Alahji Awudu Yirimea,Deputy minister of local

Government Rural Development and environment,Ghana,during the forty first session of

the united Nations commission on population and development, New York April,7,2008

The forty –First session of the commission was on population and development

Distribution, Urbanization, internal Migration and development in country like Ghana.

In the light of the above, the Government of Ghana has taken steps, with financial and

technical support from our development partners, to address major challenges of

urbanization by implementing programmes such as urban I, II, III and IV projects which

address infrastructural needs of urban communities. In addition, an urban Transport

Policy is being developed to address the urban transportation problems in the country;

whislt the ministry of Water Resources is assessing the challenges of water supply. Other

important initiatives to promote balanced development in Ghana and to help stem

rural/urban migration are the designated of selected communities as growth centers and

the implementation of an effective decentralization policy.

The Government of Ghana has also supported the establishment of a migration Research

centre at the University of Ghana. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and interior have also

established Migration Divisions to coordinate issues on migration in the country. In

addition, the National Population Council in collaboration with the National

Development and Environment, and the ministry of Health, is organizing a Forum on

Population Distribution, Urbanization and Development in August, to sensitize policy

makers, planners and other stakeholders including civil society, on the challenges and

opportunities of urbanization and its linkages to Ghana’s poverty reduction and socio-

economic development.
2.1.7Strategies for Rural Development

The rate at which development would precedes lies in interrelations of The Ministry of

Local Government and Rural Development would exists to promote the establishment

and development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralized system of local

government for the people of Ghana to ensure good governance and balanced rural based

development.

This would be done by:

Formulating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and coordinating reform policies and

programmes to democratize governance and decentralize the machinery of government.

Reforming and energizing local governments to serve effectively as institutions for

mobilizing and harnessing local resources for local national administration and

development. Facilitating the development of all human settlements through community

and popular participation. Facilitating the promotion of a clean and healthy environment.

Facilitating horticultural development. Improving the demographic database for

development planning and management. Promoting orderly human settlement

development. The Ministry believes in efficiency, effectiveness and transparency

Focus on the above will be based on two divisions:

(1.) Local government - Strong Structures, Revenue Mobilization and Collection,

and Sanitation.

(2.) Rural Development - Rural roads, Information and Communications

Technology, Tourism and Agric Processing.

The following objectives will be pursued by the Ministry in the Medium term.

• To formulate appropriate policies and programmes to accelerate the

implementation of decentralization of the machinery of government. This

is to avoid re-centralization of government machinery.

• To improve upon the human resources and institutional capacities for all

levels of the decentralized government machinery (District, town and

Unit)

• To improve the capacity of communities and local government institutions

to mobilize, and manage resources for accelerated rural and urban

development.

• To promote community based registration, collation, analysis and

publication of data on all births and deaths occurring in Ghana.

To promote human development and sustain the orderly and healthy

growth of rural and urban settlements in Ghana.

• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of local government institutions

for improved management performance.

The following are policies that would benefit rural communities.

2.1.8 Empirical Review
REFERENCES
• 2007 Ghanaian Chronicle. All rights reserved. Distributed by All Africa Global
Media (allAfrica.com)
• Journal of Social Development in Africa (1995), 10, 2, 13-22

• www.un.org/esa/population/cpd/cpd2008/Country.../Ghana.

• Caldwell, J C (1968) Population Growth and Family Change in Africa: The

New Urban Elites in Ghana, Australian National University Press, Canberra.

• Caldwell, J C (1968a) "Determinants of Rural-Urban Migration in Ghana", in

Population Studies, Vol 22 (3), pp 361-78.

• Caldwell, J C (1969) African Rural-Urban Migration: The Movement to

Ghana's Towns, Columbia University Press, New York.

• Frazier, E F (1961) ''Urbanization and Its Effects upon the Task of Nation-
Building in Africa South of the Sahara", in Journal of Negro Education, Vol