Rural-Urban Linkages: The Case of Rural Migrants from Upper West Region to Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti Region, Ghana

Abstract

In migration studies, research on backward linkages has received a lot of attention. However, research on rural-urban forward linkages is scanty. This article explored the forward linkages from rural households in the Upper West Region of Ghana to urban migrants in the mining town of Obuasi, which has a long history of attracting migrant workers. The study employed a qualitative research design using in-depth interviews to gather data from 26 respondents in Tizza, Kojokpere, Issa, Kaleo and Jang; and 13 urban migrants in Obuasi. Four focus group discussions were conducted in Obuasi to support and validate the in-depth interviews conducted in the rural communities. The study shows that the resource ows from Tizza, Kojokpere, Issa, Kaleo and Jang to urban migrants in Obuasi are in the form of social support, nancial and food transfers. The rural households view the resource ows as necessary for sustaining the livelihoods of their migrant family members and for maintaining aective ties. The study establishes that reverse ows put nancial and social burdens on rural households and this burden drains resources of rural households.

Keywords: Forward Linkages, Livelihood Strategy, Migrants, Obuasi, Upper West Region