SPECIAL SEMINAR SERIES 2nd EDITION

CFAS hosted the second edition of its Special Seminar Series on 5th May 2026 at the K. Folson Building, featuring Prof. Joseph Mensah of York University, Toronto, on gender, belonging, and transnational ageing among older Ghanaian immigrants in Canada. The session, introduced by Dr. Delali Dovie and held in partnership with SSHRC and York University, drew 29 in-person attendees and a peak of 74 online viewers.

Drawing on mixed-methods research among Ghanaian immigrants aged 55 and above in Toronto and Edmonton, Prof. Mensah challenged the "vulnerability trope" common in migration studies and theorised older migrants' identity as existing in a liminal "third space" between Ghana and Canada. His findings revealed sharp gender disparities: older women were more likely to be over 75, lower-income, and less educated, while men visited Ghana far more frequently and felt more at home there. He linked this to differing labour market pathways, with women entering work faster on arrival and men waiting for roles matching their qualifications.

The talk also explored hybrid retirement strategies, with many immigrants splitting time between Canadian summers and Ghanaian winters to balance cost of living against the non-portability of Canadian pensions. Participant testimonies illustrated shifting gender dynamics — several women noted that gender mattered little in Canada but shaped how they were treated in Ghana, where diaspora status often felt tied to perceived wealth. Discussion also touched on patriarchal norms loosening in the diaspora, giving women greater independence, and on stepwise migration patterns common among attendees.

The seminar closed by flagging future research directions, including whether diaspora capital translates into social status in Ghana, migration's role in women's escape from patriarchal structures, and how healthcare infrastructure shapes ageing-location decisions. CFAS is considering a follow-up public seminar at the British Council in June, possibly again with Prof. Mensah.