ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MIGRATIONS IN WEST AFRICA: XRAYING THE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE USING ECONOMETRIC APPROACH

Abstract

The rate of migrations in West Africa has been on the increase over the years due to the adoption of free movement protocol of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at promoting trade and development among the member states. As of 2023, the population of migrants within the region of West Africa rose to 7.4 million where nearly 90% of the 7.4 million migrants were among the countries of West African region. This study investigated impact of the variables of migrations on economic performance within the West African region from the year 2000 to 2023, and used a combination of dynamic generalized method of moment (GMM) and fixed-effect regression methods. The study found that net migrations had significant positive impact on economic performance of West African countries; it was also found that migrants' remittances of the receiving countries contributed positively and significantly to economic performance of West African economies; while on the other hand, it was found that migrants' remittances of the sending countries had significant negative impact on economic performance of West Africa; the study further found that refugee population had significant negative impact on economic performance in West Africa. The study therefore recommended the strengthening of
the movement protocol enshrined in the migration policy within the West African region, deliberate policies to encourage emigrants to invest at home, putting in place measures that forbid immigrants' outright repatriations of resources, and collaboration of host countries with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in providing special interventions for the refugee population.