Fidie Hwan a N’akyi a na Ɛkɔ: A Case Study of Ghanaian Migrants and the Diaspora as Agents of Development

Abstract

There is a Ghanaian proverb that says, “Fidie hwan a n’akyi a na ɛkɔ” and it means, “when a trap is loosened, it will go back.” The implication in the context of this paper is that migrants and members of the diaspora who maintain ties in Ghana will eventually go back and be present in the country in some way. This paper is based on a study that uses 40 in-depth interviews with those who were or have been “loosened” from Ghana to assess the different factors that keep these people tied to the country. It also evaluates their engagements to understand whether and how they affect the nation’s development. I find that there are ideals that are ingrained in Ghanaians and teach them to give back and that this in turn, affects the significant contributions they make to their country of origin.