Degree Name

MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management

First Advisor

Dr. Nikoi Kote-Nikoi

Abstract

Remittances have become an integral part of economies all over the Global South and Ghana is no exception. Official accounts estimate that remittances to Ghana have been as high as US $1 billion a year, although the true number is likely to be much higher as funds are also remitted through informal channels. This is a significant inflow of foreign currency, sent almost completely by first generation Ghanaian immigrants abroad. To maintain this level of inflows over the long run, however, would require that second-generation Ghanaian immigrants continue to remit at the same level as their parents. This study examines the remittance intentions of second-generation Ghanaians-Americans in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. The study examines whether the intent to remit will be based on the same factors that motivate remittance sending by the first generation, namely, family ties, cultural identity and emotional or cultural connection to Ghana. In addition, the study examines if second-generation Ghanaian-Americans are more likely to send social rather than monetary remittances. The study found that there is no relationship between cultural identity and emotional or cultural connection to Ghana in regards to intent to remit in the future. The largest factor was emotional connection to people (i.e. family or unrelated individuals) in Ghana. In addition, second-generation Ghanaian-Americans are more likely to remit social remittances instead of monetary remittances. From this we can conclude that unless second-generation Ghanaian-Americans have an emotional connection to family members in Ghana, they are less likely to send monetary remittances.

Disciplines

Family, Life Course, and Society | Finance | Social and Cultural Anthropology

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