Livelihoods, Not Migration: Partners back community farming to keep youth home in Upper West

Development partners have underscored the need to tackle the root causes of irregular migration through sustainable livelihood opportunities, following the commissioning of a community drip irrigation system in Konjiahi in the Wa Municipality.

The one-acre irrigation facility, implemented by Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD Ghana) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the Government of Ghana, is expected to provide year-round farming opportunities for youth and women while strengthening community resilience.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on July 10, 2026, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Ghana, Togo and Benin, Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, said addressing irregular migration requires creating viable economic opportunities within communities rather than focusing solely on migration itself.

"This community garden reflects our collective efforts to strengthen resilience in migration-affected communities. It was designed to create economic opportunities, improve food security and support environmentally sustainable livelihoods for returnees and members of their communities," she said.

She said the project demonstrates how partnerships between government, development partners, local authorities and communities can contribute to long-term development while reducing the pressures that often push young people to migrate through unsafe routes.

"We want young people to have opportunities here at home instead of feeling compelled to follow irregular migration pathways. When communities become resilient and livelihoods improve, everyone benefits," Ms. Ndiaye added.

Executive Director of CARD Ghana, Al-hassan Hudi, said the irrigation project forms part of a broader intervention aimed at helping communities build sustainable livelihoods capable of reducing economic vulnerabilities that often drive migration.

According to him, the project did not begin with infrastructure but with investments in people through skills training, entrepreneurship support and capacity building.

"We first worked with the community to identify capacity gaps and provided training on sustainable livelihoods before constructing the irrigation facility. Our objective is not simply to hand over infrastructure but to ensure communities have the knowledge and capacity to sustain it," he said.

Mr. Hudi explained that while more than 30 farmers are direct beneficiaries, the project's impact is expected to extend to entire households through increased food production, employment and local economic activity.

He expressed confidence that the facility would create productive opportunities during the dry season, a period when many young people leave rural communities in search of work elsewhere.

Technical Advisor at GIZ, Ruth Mansah Mensah, said sustainable development depends not only on investing in infrastructure but also on ensuring communities take ownership of such investments.

"What stands before us is more than a completed project. It is a symbol of what is possible when communities, government and development partners believe in the same future and work together to build it," she said.

She noted that the project's long-term success would depend on effective maintenance, community ownership and continued use, urging beneficiaries to complement the intervention by accessing employment and skills development services available through the Public Employment Centre in Wa.

Community leaders also believe the project will help retain young people within the local economy.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Konjiahi, Assembly Member Osman Fatawu said access to year-round irrigation farming would create employment opportunities that reduce the need for young people to leave the community.

"When our young people have opportunities to work and earn a decent living, they will remain here and contribute to the development of the community," he said.

The expectations expressed by officials were echoed by women in Konjiahi, many of whom said the irrigation facility offers hope beyond agriculture.

Some women said dependable dry-season farming would reduce the economic pressures that often force families to separate in search of livelihoods. They noted that many young men travel to illegal mining sites during the off-season while some women migrate to southern Ghana to work as head porters, leaving children behind.

They expressed optimism that the new irrigation system would provide a reliable source of income throughout the year, enabling families to remain together while improving household welfare.