The 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) Thematic Report on Migration has revealed that ten (10) out of the sixteen (16) regions had more people migrating out than in, with the Volta region having the largest net loss of people.
This is according to the report released by the Ghana Statistical Service in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration on Thursday March, 9 2023.
In the report, the GSS indicates that, of the six regions that had a net gain of migrants, Greater Accra had the highest gain.
It also added that, the leading destinations for persons emigrating from Ghana to settle outside the country are Europe and America.
The release which was done at the Accra International Conference Centre was chaired by Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Chief Director, Ministry of the Interior.
In her remarks, she highlighted the importance of the report and congratulated GSS for releasing statistics on migration because “the data provides the basis for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating and needs of the population within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10.7”.
She noted that “The Ministry of the Interior counts so much on the rich data emanating from the 2021 Population and Housing Census to address the issues relating to migration in the country to move forward with our sectorial policies and programmes”.
She therefore urged all stakeholders, including the media to support the GSS with the effective dissemination of the 2021 PHC data for national development.
The Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, who was also present said Ghana in recent times has not been able to do a survey solely on migration.
He added that it was important such surveys are conducted in collaboration with Ghana Immigration Service and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to accurately capture the issues relating to travel and tourism.
Chief of Mission for Ghana, Togo, and Benin, Mrs Fatou Ndiaye Diallo, speaking on behalf of IOM said “Ghana requires up-to-date migration data to facilitate reporting and evidence-based policymaking as a country of origin, transit and destination.
While this has been identified as a key need by the Government of Ghana through the National Migration Policy, the achievement of this goal has proven to be a challenge”.
She however commended the Statistical Service for producing the report which she said “provides the very much-needed data to interrogate the state of play of migration in Ghana to inform the right policy engineering.
Additionally, the data will support the review of the migration profile of Ghana”.
The report further highlighted gender differences in the main drivers of migration indicating that female migrants mostly move due to marriage and family reunions whereas males move for economic reasons.
Visit http://www.statsghana.gov.gh for more details of the report
