How does international migrants’ investment in country of origin influence their return prospects: The case of Ghanaian immigrants in the United Kingdom

Abstract

International return migration has gained attention in recent years, though the connection between investment in a country of origin and return intentions remains underexplored. This paper uses an explanatory mixed-methods design to examine the effect of investment in a country of origin and the return proposition for Ghanaian immigrants in the United Kingdom. The study conducted a cross-sectional survey among 297 respondents and carried out 30 in-depth interviews. The results showed that the average age of respondents was 37.8 years, and the majority were married (77.1%), had a tertiary education (85.2%), and were employed (66.3%). More than two-thirds (76%) of them indicated that their motivation for investing in Ghana was driven by their desire to return. The desire to return to Ghana is higher among immigrants who are actively investing in Ghana’s economy. The study found that Ghanaian immigrants with guaranteed legal status in the UK could secure jobs and operate businesses to accumulate capital for possible investment back home. There is a need for Ghanaian authorities to integrate investment sectors with digital and financial services to attract more interest, while migration policies should account for the transnational nature of migrants.