O Britwum

In an effort to look closely at the informal economy which employs 86% of the Ghanaian labour force, the presentation draws from a study of market women in Kotokoraba, Anafo and Abura markets in Cape coast of the Central region of Ghana. The study stems from the reality that markets in the country are predominantly a women’s affair, employing 80% of working women in Ghana. The presentation highlighted organizational structures and capacities, functional groups, issues of membership, Market controls, welfare capacities, potentials and the elements of formalisation within the market through various associations.

Women Traders Associations (WTA) as part of the informal sector of the economy provides a unique understanding to the role of women in the informal economy of Ghana. It also highlights the gender relations which exist in the informal economy with respect to social, cultural and political roles played by women and men. Functioning to regulate market trading activities, the markets also host varying social and economic level of women, who together builds a strong welfare network providing social support both within and outside their space.

The study revealed that existing within these seemingly informal and disorganised markets are complex structures of formalisations and organisations for the maintenance of discipline and order. These associations are however challenged by some traditions like the installation of a lifetime leaders, whereby an association leader is installed as a queen and is only replaced after her death. Another challenge is seen in the ambiguous role of governments towards these associations and the informal economy in general. While governments resort to negate and criminalise their activities as mere public nuisance and price manipulators, it is also seen as falling back on the informal economy in implementing most of its policies especially on areas of manpower and skills development. Although these informal markets have a strong and sustainable economic and political force, they are often ineffective in getting government to respond to their long term needs.

The paper’s position therefore is a call on governments to encourage the proper functioning of the informal sector and also discourage the inequalities and the exploitative relations existing between the formal and informal economy. In its view, this will not only accelerate development but will also improve gender equality and transformation.