Experiences Of Left- Behind Children: The Case Of Foreign Service Officers’ Children In Ghana

ABSTRACT

Transnational migration has become a reality and is on the increase globally. Most of the parents travel to provide economic and other support for their children and families. As a result of this, millions of children are growing up with single or no parent staying with them. However, children’s wellbeing is very dependent on parental care. The roles of parents are delegated to caregivers when they migrate. These have necessitated the concern about the effect of migration on left-behind children. The general objective of the research was to examine the experiences of left-behind children of FSOs. Specifically, it explored the influence of their parents’ absence on children’s health, education as well as other challenges and their coping strategies. The study was conducted in Accra, Ghana. Snowballing and purposive sampling method were used to recruit the children for the study. In all, fifteen children and five caregivers were interviewed. The data was analyzed thematically.

The results of the study showed that almost all the left-behind children expressed good knowledge about the work of their parents and they were involved in the decision making process of whom to stay with before the parent(s) departure. The caregivers provided the needed support for the left-behind children as a result, they had favorable relationship with them. Furthermore, communication was seen as a medium fostering the relationship with the migrant parents and left-behind children. In addition, the findings of the study indicated that the absence of the parents had both positive and negative influence on the academic performance as well as the health of left-behind children. Also, among some of the challenges mentioned by the caregivers and left-behind children included inadequate support from extended family members, poor finance and poor health.

In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the absence of parents have consequences for the health and academic performance of the left-behind children; negative effect on emotional health and positive effect on academic performance. These therefore have influence on the well-being of the children. There is the need for government to enhance bilateral engagement with other countries which do not allow spouses of diplomat to work as this will enable spouse to take their partners as well as children along to postings. In addition psychological counselling should be offered to left-behind family of FSOs (especially children), before the parent leaves the country and during their term of office at post.