Spaces of resilience, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship in informal work in Ghana

Sowatey, Emmanuel Addo; Nyantakyi-Frimpong, Hanson; Mkandawire, Paul; Arku, Godwin; Hussey, Lucia Kafui; Amasaba, Aluizah

doi:10.1080/13563475.2018.1480933

Cited by 27 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…However, traders have different perceptions of themselves and their economic activities. In the face of the harsh economic conditions, traders consider their businesses as their everyday source of employment, means of income and wealth accumulation, and the backbone of their family’s livelihood (Beek and Thiel, 2017; Lindell and Ampaire, 2017; Sowatey et al, 2018).…”

Section: The Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic In Marketplaces In Ghanamentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Marketplaces in Urban Ghana

2020

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This article explores Ghana’s preventive measures for stemming the spread of the COVID-19 disease among its population and the socio-economic impact of these measures in urban marketplaces. It argues that Ghana’s COVID-19 approach in marketplaces was characterised by (1) improving hygiene conditions through disinfection of all markets, (2) closing down markets to enforce social distancing among traders, and (3) imposing a lockdown to decongest densely populated marketplaces. Yet the micro-geographies of Ghana’s marketplaces complicated the implementation of these preventive measures. The socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in marketplaces were evident in the increased food prices, the economic hardships associated with the lockdown directive, and the forceful relocation and decongestion exercises to enforce social distancing among traders. The hostile nature with which municipal authorities implemented the COVID-19 preventive measures in marketplaces is akin to how they sought to decongest inner cities prior to the emergence of COVID-19.

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Section: The Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic In Marketplaces In Ghanamentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Marketplaces in Urban Ghana

2020

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“…Micro-entrepreneurs take great pride in their operations, which they consider as a critical driver of both local and national growth [8]. As small companies use and add value to national resources, they are ideally placed in both local and regional market to meet local needs [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Informal entrepreneurs mainly run small-scale businesses that enable micro-firms to rely primarily on the owner's competencies [10]. Many entrepreneurs take advantage of the informal market opportunities to sustain and increase their working capital [11], wherein the informal sector is viewed as a source of dynamism and entrepreneurial creativity distinguished by resilience, adaptability, job development, and economic growth [8]. As such, informal small businesses have an essential role to solve socioeconomic issues that lurk in many countries across the globe, particularly in developing countries [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competitive Advantages of the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Competencies and Economic Sustainability Performance

et al. 2021

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This study investigated the mediating and moderating effects of competitive advantage and access to working capital, respectively, on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and informal microenterprise economic performance in Senegal from the lens of resource-based view theory (RBV). Data were randomly gathered using the cross-sectional research design from 356 informal micro-entrepreneurs operating in the informal sector. The study outcomes revealed that entrepreneurial competencies and competitive advantage emerged as significant predictors of economic performance for informal microenterprises in Senegal. On the contrary, access to working capital displayed an adverse moderating effect, while competitive advantage exhibited a partial and positive mediating effect on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and economic performance of informal microenterprises. The Important and Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA) results signify that the most significant considerations for the economic performance of informal microenterprises in Senegal were competitive advantage, access to working capital, commitment competency, and relationship competency. Simultaneously, this study expanded the reach of RBV by enhancing our understanding pertaining to the mediating and moderating roles in the relationships among entrepreneurial competencies, competitive advantage, and access to working capital towards improving the economic performance of informal microenterprises across developing countries. Since many have lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Government of Senegal and its policymakers should place more emphasis on the importance of informal entrepreneurship, such as provision of low-interest credit facilities for their working capital, as well as thorough training in the strategic advantage and competencies domains. This is because informal entrepreneurs have the ability, via jobs creation and income generating activities, to contribute to the economic growth of the country.

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“…In negotiating access to our research site, it became evident that there were subtle elements of reciprocity and trust in seeking access. In our market research, the objective was to understand the marketplace from the perspectives of traders (for details, see Sowatey et al, 2018). Our participants, the market women, similarly had their own views about what the confines of the discussions should be and what could and could not be discussed.…”

Section: Accessing the Research Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections from Cross-Gender Fieldwork Experiences in Open Markets in Ghana

Sowatey

Nyantakyi-Frimpong

Hussey

et al. 2021

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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Fieldwork can be an enjoyable academic adventure producing lifelong experiences of excitement and a sense of academic accomplishment. However, it can be an equally frustrating undertaking, especially when carried out in ‘unfamiliar’ environments. This paper adds to the growing number of studies about fieldworkers’ experiences by reflecting on the complexities involved in the process and proffering ways to respond to them. We share our perspectives as three adult African males conducting research in a predominantly female space in two informal markets in Accra, Ghana. To do this, we engage with five issues related to fieldwork: preparing to enter the field; negotiating access; handling interviews; dealing with ethical dilemmas; and exiting the field. We found that being male is not a barrier to conducting research in a predominantly female space. The success of our fieldwork was a product of our ability to adapt, be creative, appreciate our inadequacies, learn quickly and also take some practical and common-sense steps. Our hope is that the insights shared in this paper will serve as a compass for prospective fieldworkers.

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Spaces of resilience, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship in informal work in Ghana

Cited by 27 publications

References 28 publications

Exploring the Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Marketplaces in Urban Ghana

Exploring the Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Marketplaces in Urban Ghana

Competitive Advantages of the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Competencies and Economic Sustainability Performance

Reflections from Cross-Gender Fieldwork Experiences in Open Markets in Ghana

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