Perceptions of the Ghanaian Diaspora - Essay Sample

Introduction

The Ghanaians in diaspora are viewed differently by various individual and the nation. Due to social change, the path of immigration has been more complicated, and the motivation based on the migration has been relatively diversified as described in different literary works. The term diaspora has been assumed as a classical diaspora but is currently defined as a minority of migrant origin living in a host country but at the same time maintaining links with their country of origin. Just like any other Diasporas, Ghanaians have found residents in other countries; however, when immigrants from Ghana arrive in the host countries, they actively contribute to the tourism sectors since they seem to tour and adventure new place within the host nation.

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Ghanaian Diaspora Migration Roots

Thousands of West African youths from Ghana tend to cross to other regions like Europe through the Mediterranean Sea, and this has become a trend. This makes many of the Ghanaians in the diaspora to be perceived to be in the host countries illegally and through dubious means. Most of the Ghanaians in other host countries are seen to be a desperate, incompetent and illiterate individual group of young people who cannot be subjected to any reasonable job position (Richards, 2005). Such young individual is found to be more adventurous and ready to visits new places in the host country and thus contributing toward the tourism sector.

There has been a consistent campaign against the illegal immigration from western African countries like Ghana founded on the assumption that there is a direct link between the decision to migrate and the perceived risks (Fehler, 2011). Most of the Ghanaian diaspora are assumed to be people who lack objective knowledge and must have made their way into the host nations through dubious means. When such immigrants get back to the country of origin, they invest and promote their tourism department.

Ghanaian Diaspora and Tourism

According to Bruner (1996), Ghana is mostly visited by diaspora Africans who try to find the origin of their ancestral land and seeking to reconnect with their ancestral families. Several factors tend to boost and facilitate the basis of the roots tourism experience of diaspora Africans some of which include: host-guest relationship and appearance of the slave castles, authenticity, and emotion. These are done through welcome ceremonies and conducting a visit to communities to enhance host-guest interaction. Many Ghanaian are capable of comparing their living conditions with those of people in other parts of the world. In Ghana, information from the international media and the Ghanaian diaspora has built a perceptional idea that immigrants with official articles in other parts of the world like Europe are experiencing 'the good life.'

Some of the ex-migrants that had successfully returned from their endeavors and can gather the economic way to transcend their social position and have effectively contributed to the tourism sector as they serve as tourists(Henry and Mohan, 2003). The returned migrants are considered as a respectable individual with distinctive social class; therefore are also used as a way of encouraging other locals to promote the tourism sector.

Heritage Tourism

The connection between migration and tourism development from the Ghanaian diaspora has been a significant area of concerned. Those individuals who may have left their country at a tender age when they come back tend to be more into adventure and trying to get to find out more about their heritage (Yankholmes and Akyeampong, 2010). This in turns enhances the tourism sector.it is noted that the frequent human mobility seems to benefit nations of origin, families and various industries such as the tourism sectors. For instance, the tourism perceptions at Danish, Osu-Ghana within the dark tourism and the slavery heritage.

References

Bruner, E. M. (1996). Tourism in Ghana: The representation of slavery and the return of the black diaspora. American Anthropologist, 98(2), 290-304.

Richards, S. L. (2005). What Is to Be Remembered?: Tourism to Ghana's Slave Castle-Dungeons. Theatre Journal, 617-637.

Fehler, B. O. (2011). (Re) Constructing Roots: Genetics and the 'Return of African Americans to Ghana. Mobilities, 6(4), 585-600.

Henry, L., & Mohan, G. (2003). Making homes: The Ghanaian diaspora, institutions, and development. Journal of International Development: The Journal of the Development Studies Association, 15(5), 611-622.