Dr. Kwaku Arhin-Sam
Lecturer | School of Social Sciences
Education
| 2014-2018 | PhD | Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS), Jacobs University and University of Bremen, Germany |
| 2016 | Certificate | Geographical Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing, United Nations University, Legon, Ghana |
| 2010-2013 | M.A | International Social Science, Friedensau Adventist University, Germany |
| 2004–2008 | B.Ed. | Social Science, University of Cape Coast, Ghana |
Employment
| Since 2016 | Freelance Consultant for Development Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Organizational Development (Project Monitoring and Evaluations, Social and Development Policy Analysis, Project Management, Capacity Building Trainings) |
| 2019 | Researcher, West Africa Migration Governance (WAMIG), Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institut, Freiburg, Germany |
| 2014 | Scientific Research Assistant, Department for Social Anthropology, University of Bayreuth, Germany |
| 2013–2014 | Research Associate, Faculty of Social Science, Friedensau Adventist University, Germany |
| 2009–2010 | Teaching/Administrative Assistant, Faculty of Arts, University of Cape Coast, Ghana |
Professional Engagements
| Since 2019 | Associate Fellow, Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institut-Freiburg |
| Since 2018 | Founder (Non-executive Director), Centre for Return and i-Migration (CRIM), Valley View University, Techiman Campus, Ghana |
| 2017–2019 | Consultant, Friedensau International Admissions project, Friedensau Adventist University, Germany |
| 2019 | External Consultant and Evaluator, Give them a Chance Project, Petit-Guave, Haiti for ADRA Switzerland and ADRA Haiti |
| 2012a | External Evaluation Consultant: ADRA International, Haiti, 2012 Network-funded Earthquake Response, ADRA International in Haiti |
| 2012b | Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant, ADRA Ghana, Ghana, 2012 |
| 2012c | Impact assessment Consultant, ADRA Ghana Microfinance Program, Ghana |
| 2011 | Project Monitoring consultant on Sinti and Roma Community Project for ADRA Germany, ADRA Ukraine. |
Selected Publications
Books:
Arhin-Sam, K. (2019) "Return Migration, Reintegration and Sense of Belonging; The Case of Skilled Ghanaian Returnees"; Baden-Baden, Germany; Nomos Publications.
Academic reports and Articles:
Arhin-Sam, K., (2019) " The Political Economy of Migration Governance in Nigeria"; Freiburg; Arnold Bergstraesser Institute.
Arhin-Sam, K., & Zanker, F., (2019) “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Political Stakes of Migration Governance”; MEDAM Policy Brief No. 2019/4, IfW, Kiel
Arhin-Sam, K. Zanker, F., Altrogge, J., & Jegen, L., (2019) "Challenges in EU-African Migration Cooperation: West African Perspectives on Forced Return";MEDAM Policy Brief No. 2019/4, IfW, Kiel
Arhin-Sam, K. (2013) "Clients and Microfinance services: Views from bellow"; AKEZ Working Papers, Vol. 2; Friedensau, Germany.
Technical reports:
Arhin-Sam, K. (2020), "Statelessness Reduction and Community sensitisation in Thailand" Annual project evaluation report; ADRA Switzerland
Arhin-Sam, K., Daphline J. (2019). “Give Them A Chance: Education for Restavek Children in Haiti"; Interim Evaluation Report; ADRA Switzerland.
Arhin-Sam, K. (2017). International Students Admission Processes in Friedensau and Germany ,Friedensau Adventist University, Germany
Arhin-Sam, K. Ndikumana, S. (2012). The 2010 Haiti Earthquake and ADRA’s Relief projects Evaluation research report presented to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) -International, U.S. A
Arhin-Sam, K. (2012) Review of ADRA-Ghana’s Microfinance Program. Research report presented to ADRA Ghana.
Relevant Research projects
| Since 2019 | The Political Economy of Migration Governance in Nigeria (West Africa Migration Governance (WAMIG)), Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institut, Freiburg, Germany This project assesses migration politics in Nigeria, where there is growing concern about the high levels of irregular migration and human trafficking. The research follows a holistic understanding of migration, encompassing diaspora migration, irregular migration, displaced people, Nigerian refugees and asylum seekers, refugees and asylum seekers from other countries in Nigeria and immigration (primarily from neighbouring Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries). It analyses these forms of migration on three levels – governance, political stakes and societal discourse. |
| Since 2018 | Social Remittances for Africa’s Development (with Dr. Mary Setrana, University of Ghana) Remittances come in different forms, they may be financial, goods, social and political ideas. However, the increasing interest of African governments and policy makers on financial remittances has created lacuna in the remittances and development nexus. The significant but invisible role of transferred political and social ideas, skills and knowledge of skilled migrants to Africa’s development is critical. Skilled migrants are returning to their countries of origin with expertise and acquired knowledge which has ripple effect on development. However, only a handful of programmes which are mostly internationally arranged programmes such as the Diaspora-Carnegie program, the German’s return experts and the IOM return programs coordinate such returns. African governments’ efforts to harness these opportunities have been inadequate and calls for attention. Using Ghana as a case, this study examines the rea-sons, knowledge, and values of skilled return migrants to Ghana and how they mobilise themselves for development of the home country as well as sustain their return. |
| 2014–2018 | Return Migration, Reintegration and Sense of Belonging: the Case of Skilled Ghanaian, PhD Research Abstract (Abstract) |
Presentations
- Migration Governance and The Politics Of Shaming; Nigeria And Irregular Migration, at Governing Migration outside ‘Fortress Europe’ conference at University of Cambridge, 16–17 September 2019.
- ‘Conceptualising Sense of Belonging’ paper presented at the third CEGRAD, UCC Summer School on the Engendered Politics of Place and Belonging Pempamsie Hotel, Cape Coast 16th – 27th July 2018.
- ‘Return Migration and Qualitative Research’ paper presented at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB) Summer School on Good Work in Academia, Berlin, 28th May – 1st June, 2018.
- ‘Interrogating Citizenship and Perceptions: Ghana’s Movers and Stayers Paradox’ paper presented at the International Migration Conference, Centre for Migration Studies, Legon, Ghana, 26th – 27th October 2017.
- ‘Return Migration and Post-return Perceptions’ paper presented at African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) Conference, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 12th – 14th October 2017.
- ‘Returnees and Land Conflicts in Ghana” paper presented at the second CEGRAD, UCC Summer School on Intersectional Perspectives on Pastoralism, Migration and Displacement, Cape Coast 24th July– 4th August 2017.
- Panel on Land commodification, Land tenure and Gender in Africa at the 7th European Conference on African Studies (ECAS) 2017 with the theme: Urban Africa - Urban Africans: New encounters of the rural and the urban, Centre for African Studies Basel, Switzerland 29th June – 1st July, 2017. Panel Chair.
- Curriculum review workshop for the M.A. in International Social Science, Theologische Hochschule Friendensau, Germany. Resource Person, 24th March –4th April 2017.
- ‘Trajectories of Return: Returnees in The Eyes of Others’ paper presented at the German Sociological Congress under the section: Entwicklungssoziologie und Sozialanthropologie Offene Gesellschaften? Lebenswelten von Flüchtlingen im Globalen Süden, University of Bamberg, Germany, 27th – 29th September 2016.
- Cape Coast Harmattan School on Re-Activating Gender-Sensitive Research on Land: Land Commoditization, Land Tenure and Gender in Africa, held at the Sasakawa Conference Centre, UCC, Cape Coast, Ghana, February to March 2016. Facilitator.
- Summer School on Doing and Communicating Qualitative Research, participation and presentation of research methods, Kingston University London, United Kingdom, 4th – 8th July 2016; Participant.
- ‘From Integration to Reintegration; A Conceptual Framing’ dissertation presentation at the Innovative Learning Week, Firbush Retreat for PhD Researchers, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 15th – 17th February 2016.
- ‘Conceptualizing Reintegration and Sense of Belonging; An Analytical Model for Return Migration’ paper presented at the International Conference on Labour Migration and Industrial Citizenship: Albanians on the Move – Citizenship, Identity and Development, University of New York Tirana, Albania, 23rd – 25th June 2015.
Teaching
| Since 2013 | Adjunct lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Friedensau Adventist University M.A Courses: Development Economics Social Research Methods Migration and Refugee studies Working Approaches in Humanitarian Aid Science and Innovation management Interdisciplinary Analysis of Development Cooperation |
| 2017–2018 Winter semester | Co-Lecturer, University of Bremen, Germany B.A. Course Sociology in English |
| 2017–2018 Winter semester | Co-Lecturer, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany B.A. Course Academic and Professional Skills, A University-wide Foundation Course |
| 2008–2010 | Teaching Assistant B.Ed/BCom Dstance education Course Management Information Systems (MIS) |
Professional Memberships
| Since 2017 | Member: African Studies Association of Africa |
| Since 2017 | Member: African Migration, Mobility, and Displacement (AMODI) |
| Since 2017 | Member: Africa-Europe Group for Interdisciplinary Studies (AEGIS) |
| Since 2017 | Co-Editor, AKEZ Working Papers |
