Journal of Asian and African Studies
Volume 54, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 88-103

‘Informal Exceptionalism?’ Labour Migrants’ Creative Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Livelihoods in Accra, Ghana (Article)

Oteng-Ababio M. , Tanle A. , Amoah S.T.* , Kusi L. , Kosoe E.A. , Bagson E.
  • a Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
  • b Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  • c Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University for Development Studies, Ghana
  • d Department of Geography & Resource Development, University of Ghana, Ghana
  • e Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University for Development Studies, Ghana
  • f Department of Governance and Development Management, University for Development Studies, Ghana

Abstract

Intra- and inter-regional migration is widely described. Prior studies have attribute varied reasons for this development including the quest for greener pastures and unequal development in northern Ghana. What has escaped critical scrutiny is some migrants’ ability to escape extreme rural poverty, albeit in harsh urban environment. Such a missing gap can potentiate high policy failures, hence the need for academic attention. Using a mixed method, we focus on two informal daily livelihoods as exemplars – exceptionalism – in Accra. We see their embedded organisational vitality and dynamic networks as illuminating for good livelihood practices, proper city governance and fostering economic empowerment. We call on city authorities to take cognisance of such complexities and heterogeneity of production–labour relations, failure of which can spell doom for policies ostensibly initiated to curb migration, as they are likely to be underpinned by factual inaccuracies and may result in ill-fated interventions. © The Author(s) 2018.

Author Keywords

Migration Livelihood Accra trade liberalisation Urbanisation globalisation

Index Keywords

sustainability labor migration Ghana trade liberalization heterogeneity Urbanization empowerment poverty globalization entrepreneur Accra Greater Accra livelihood
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050533197&doi=10.1177%2f0021909618789965&partnerID=40&md5=19ddf68937ac3bb4efac8c343f2b2bc3
DOI: 10.1177/0021909618789965
ISSN: 00219096
Original Language: English