Climate change-immobility nexus: perspectives of voluntary immobile populations from three coastal communities in Ghana

Discussions on the climate change–human mobility nexus have received intense academic and policy attention. Although there is evidence that some people decide to stay put amidst climate hazards, research on climate change and immobility remains limited, particularly in relation to Africa. To address this scholarly gap, this study conducted 36 qualitative in-depth interviews to examine voluntary immobility amidst climate-induced recurrent coastal flooding in three Ghanaian coastal communities. Findings revealed three reasons for immobility: place attachment, livelihood opportunities, and low mobility prospects. We argue that understanding voluntary immobility in the context of climate change requires a better appreciation of interconnected factors that cause people to stay put. This study adds to scholarship on voluntary immobility in Africa by highlighting participants’ strong ties to their environment, reliance on their environment for survival, and limited mobility options. Based on the findings, as well as the fact that the reviewed policy frameworks at the national level (Ghana) pay scant attention to climate hazards, particularly coastal flooding and immobile populations, the Ghanaian government should develop bottom-up policies that incorporate local understandings of voluntary immobility in order to protect social connections, livelihoods, and culture.