African nations including Ghana and Kenya have signed agreements with partners such as Spain, Qatar, and Caribbean states to create legal pathways for employment abroad, particularly in healthcare, construction, and service industries. But as they do this, researchers caution that overseas employment should complement—not replace—domestic job creation. While migration generates valuable remittances—worth $4.6 billion, or about 6% of Ghana’s GDP, in 2024—it can also worsen shortages of skilled professionals in their home countries, particularly healthcare professionals. Researchers argue that migration policies should form part of broader development strategies that include investment in education, job creation, and public institutions. They also stress the importance of supporting returning migrants with the resources they need to translate the skills and experience acquired abroad into local development gains. Without stronger domestic economic opportunities, reliance on overseas employment risks deepening inequality and weakening essential public services.
The Conversation