The Diaspora And Nigeria-Ghana Relations (1979-2010)

Abstract

The migration of Africans within West Africa is far from being a recent phenomenon. People moved within and across the ethnic lines before the colonial era, but in recent times the number of African emigrants has risen significantly, especially in the 21st Century. African diasporas within the African continent, especially in the sub-region of West Africa are often overlooked actors in the area of development and integration. Therefore, this study examined the roles of diasporas in Ghana and Nigeria in the areas of development and sub-regional integration in West Africa and how they are enhanced or diminished by the ECOWAS treaty, as a formal institution of development and integration in West Africa. Also, the contributions of African diasporas outside of West-African countries is an issue that has not been well articulated in the foreign policies of Nigeria and Ghana for the purpose of actualising the integration agenda of the ECOWAS. This study adopted a mixed research design, a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Up to 357 Nigerians living in Ghana and 211 Ghanaians living in Nigeria participated in the study. The ratio of males to females among Nigerian diasporas was 8 to 1 while the Ghanaian diasporas had a ratio of about 7 to 1. The mean ages of Nigerian diasporas was 24.6 years and Ghanaian diasporas was 45.6 years. Three research questions were raised and answered. The findings revealed that both Nigerian and Ghanaian diasporas contributed to the social, economic, political and cultural development of Ghana and Nigeria respectively. The present state of diaspora linkages between Nigeria and Ghana was found to be supportive of the sub-regional integration agenda of ECOWAS. The findings of hypotheses revealed that Nigerian and Ghanaian diasporas are contributing to the development of their countries of origin and destination. The formal institutional arrangements such as ECOWAS Protocol was found to be operational and aiding the developmental activities of Ghanaian and Nigerian diasporas. The linkages between Ghanaian and Nigerian diasporas and their countries of destination and origin were found to enhance Nigeria and Ghana bilateral relations. It was concluded that the ECOWAS community leaders aimed at a borderless West Africa when they signed the ECOWAS treaty, but the officials entrusted with implementing the policy seem to be self-centered and not community-oriented. This study recommends among others that in order to facilitate diaspora engagement in the development process of Nigeria and Ghana, the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments should strengthen their links with the existing diaspora networks and organisations, such as religious organisations and communities, associations, and venues of engagement created and maintained by the Nigerian and Ghanaian diasporas