Paper short abstract:

This paper ascertains whether young internal migrants are prone to poverty, livelihood insecurity and become victims of exploitative employment compared to non-migrant youth population in Ghana. The paper highlights an emerging livelihood inequality, influenced by ethnic identity and exploitation.

Paper long abstract:

This paper ascertains whether young internal migrants are prone to poverty, livelihood insecurity and become victims of exploitative employment when compared to the non-migrant youth population in Ghana. The paper examines whether poverty and other socio-economic indicators, mediate the association between migration, livelihood security, vulnerability, and exploitation, and crime. We use the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) 6 (2012) and 7 (2017), with a sample size of 15,000 households. This analysis focuses on youth in four (Greater Accra, Western, Brong Ahafo, and Ashanti Regions) of the current ten administrative regions in Ghana which record the highest number of internal migrants. The study defines youth as individuals between the ages of 15 and 34 years. Birth region and current region of residence are used together as a proxy for migration. This study employs qualitative methodologies and mediation analysis to assess the determinants of livelihood, poverty, exploitation, and victimisation. The paper also highlights an emerging livelihood inequality, which is influenced by the ethnic and spatial identity of young internal migrants and prone exploitation in the context of employment and crime. To address this spatial discrepancy, we recommend geographical targeting of poverty reduction initiatives, soft skills education, and the introduction of humanitarian and employment centres.