Hazards of Street Hawking. A Case Study of the Bread and Turkey Tail Business in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality

Abstract

This study provides insight into the street hawking phenomenon and tries to evaluate the hazards it poses to both road users and hawkers. This study uses the boom in the bread and Turkey tail hawking business in the Nsawam- Adoagyiri municipality, which can be found in the Eastern region of Ghana as its study area. This is because the major road from Accra to Kumasi runs through the town. Therefore, many buses stop over at this point to allow passengers to use the washroom and buy some food (mainly bread, turkey tail and fried yam) which can easily be consumed while the vehicle is in motion. Street vending or hawking in Ghana is similar to what goes on in other developing countries. Vendors stand by or on the street, some of whom carry goods in hand and some on head. Others also set up stands or tables by the roadside and display their wares on them. Anytime there is traffic jam, they rush to vehicles and try to sell their goods to both drivers and passengers. They also sell to pedestrians and anybody who is interested in buying. The main objective of this study is to draw attention to the various hazards involved in the street hawking business. These hazards may or may not be known to many especially the street hawkers themselves, which is why they may choose to engage in this line of business. The study also, seeks to evaluate the extent to which existing and non- existing laws on hawking in and around the country are influencing this situation. There is review of literature on some themes or concepts surrounding the street hawking phenomenon to reflect activities of hawkers in various places. A conceptual framework which pictorially outlines some factors that push or pull people to hawking activities are explored. A hundred (100) hawkers were selected and interviewed with a questionnaire, while two officials from the local assembly were engaged in an in-depth interview. The following findings emerged: firstly, it is evident that many of the hawkers enter into this line of business due to its low capital requirement. Others do not choose to be part of these activities but are forced into it to augment family income. Secondly, it was observed that hawkers face many dangers as a result of their line of work. These come in the form of motor accidents, health dangers as a result of emissions from vehicles, excessive standing and running as well as continuous exposure to vagaries of the weather. It was also discovered that the municipal assembly of the Nsawam- Adoagyiri area has no structures in place or existing bye- laws that control or govern street hawking activities. Therefore, pedestrian sidewalks have been invaded by hawkers. Consequently, illegal goods like turkey tails are smuggled into the country and are displayed openly on the streets. Majority of hawkers in the area were found to be females between the ages of 15 and 40 years. It was revealed that poverty, low educational attainment and family responsibilities are some of the issues that push hawkers into the business. Hawkers further expressed low start- up capital and manageable profits as some factors that attract them to the hawking business.