Abstract
Using information collected in a questionnaire survey, this article investigates the role of Ghanaian immigrant associations in Toronto to illustrate how a group of recent African immigrants organizes itself to address needs related to their settlement in a new country. The study finds that Ghanaians have established a relatively large network of township, ethnic, and national associations. The associations fulfill a wide variety of economic, cultural, social and political functions related to the needs of the immigrants in the new country. At the same time, the associations serve their needs in the homeland: the immigrants use them to contribute to community development efforts, fight for certain political rights, and maintain ties to the homeland. Analysis showed that length of residence, level of education, income, and residential location were the most important determinants of membership in Ghanaian associations.
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