Migrant remittances: A driving force in rural development

The main push factor for migration from rural communities is lack of employment opportunities for inhabitants who had high level of educational. When they migrate, they remit back to their families at communities they migrated from. Remittances play important role in rural development, and the study using Tutu in Ghana as a case study found out that as a result of money remitted to residents in the community, the study participants acquired farm lands, bought vehicles and built houses which they would not have had without remittances. More wives and mothers than other persons received large portions of the remittances. Those who remitted home maintained that in addition to remitting money to their families, they were also willing to contribute to community development including construction of schools, churches and community centre, and also pay school fees to the brilliant but needy students. Thus, they were willing to help develop the entire community. Adapted from the source document.