This study examines internal migration, remittances and welfare impacts among migrant
households in the Dormaa Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Data were
gathered though a questionnaire survey among 202 migrant households and in-depth
interviews with 8 of them and some key informants. The findings were analysed largely based
on the Push-Pull theory and New Economics of Labour Migration Theory. The findings of the
study indicate that an overwhelming majority of migrant households reported an improved
welfare as a result of having a migrant in their household who have moved away to other
communities during the last 10 years and have been away for the last six months or are
expected be away for six months or more. Majority of these migrants sent remittances back to
their families left behind, either in the form of cash or goods. More males migrate than
females,which is consistent with the general tendency for males to migrate more than females.
The age category with the highest proportion of migrants was 30-39 years. Many of the
migrants moved to another town or village in Ghana for work-related reasons, notably job
transfer, work, or seek work/better work. The migrants themselves were the main people who
made the decisions to migrate followed by spouses, parents and siblings, lending support to
the collective decision making within households. Also, most of the migrants had some
connections or contacts at their most recent migration destinations. A lot of the migrants relied
on their personal savings to finance their migration whilst others received funds from family
members and banks to finance their migration. The study recommend that government should
make efforts to monitor remittance flow in Ghana and also increase awareness about the
importance of remittance for the national and household economy. Further, there is the need
to scale up education on social attitudes and discourses about internal migration and policy
initiatives on remittance management in Ghana.