1 TOWARDS THE SUSTAINABLE RETURN OF WEST AFRICAN TRANSNATIONAL MIGRANTS: WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

Abstract: In this paper sustainability of return of transnational migrants originating from West Africa and the influence of their financial, social and human capital transfers upon return is explored. Return migration is not an end in itself and changes with the expansion and deepening of the globalisation process. As further understanding of the process develops, focus is shifting from the migrant's presence at origin to include the returnee's social networks and his or her contribution to the development process at origin. Financial, social and human capital transfers from transnational migrants have the potential to impact on the development process of countries of origin on various levels of society. However in order to maximize this potential in a sustainable manner appropriate policies must be formulated, implemented and assessed. Using existing data this paper explores the sustainable return of transnational migrants originating from West Africa, with particular emphasis on Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and the impact of their transfer of financial, social and human capital on the development process, further analysing the data for implications for policy