What type of study is this?

This is a Observational study (also classified as: Literature Review).

August 24, 2025

Women and Girls on the Move: Determinants of Female Internal Migration in Northern Ghana- Insights from East Mamprusi District, Ghana

Key Points

Female internal migration is driven by multiple factors, including poverty and a lack of land rights, particularly for women.
The study highlights the significance of household decisions in promoting female migration to urban areas for better livelihood opportunities.
Qualitative data were gathered through interviews and focus groups in the East Mamprusi District, revealing insights into cultural influences on migration.
Recommendations include addressing cultural barriers that hinder women's land access, promoting gender equality, and implementing supportive policies.

Abstract

Internal female migration is shaping Ghana's development discourse as an increasing number of women and young girls engage in rural-urban migration either independently or by family decision due to widespread poverty, limited arable landand high female unemployment. Limited literature exists on the determining factors of female internal rural-urban migration. This paper fills the gap by examining determinants of female internal rural-urban migration in the East Mmprusi District of the North East Region. Primary data were collected from individuals, heads of households heads women's groups, and key informants and focus group discussions, among others, through a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions. The study found the existence of pull and push factors as being responsible for female internal migration, including the collective family household decision to send the female to the cities and towns as one of the many livelihood diversification strategies for the rural poor households. Other factors responsible for the female outmigration included lack land rights for women, as customary land tenure and rights tended to favor male over the female counterpart, low farm output leading to exreme povertyamon g rural women, the desire of young spinsters to prepare themselves financially and materially towards marriage by purchaing clothes/items, cooking utensils, low level of skills and education among rural among rural women. The study recommends a change in gender norms and cultural practices that inhibit women from accessing land resources in order to ward off gender discrimination and the incorporation of affirmative action policies which give women freedom of choice without hindrances. Keywords: Internal Migration, Female, Determinants, Ferminization, District, Ghana

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