Access to Basic Services among Male and Female-Headed Migrant Households in Old Fadama, Accra
Date
2017-07
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Old Fadama is an informal settlement which lacks legal recognition and is often exempted from the city’s planning and development agenda. Basic services such as toilet, electricity, water, bathhouse and housing are often under pressure due to the high population within the area. Studies done on the accessibility of basic services within the area often focus on the migrant household as one unit without distinguishing between those of the male and female migrant households and their differences in accessibility of basic services. This study seeks to investigate the extent of financial and physical accessibility of basic services to the male and female- headed migrant households of Old Fadama.
This study examined the physical and economic accessibility of basic services among male and female-headed migrant households within Old Fadama. In addition, it discussed their coping strategies as well as the effect of acessibility on their livelihoods. The study employed the use of the mixed method approach involving the issuing of seventy-two (72) and forty-eight (48) structured questionnaires to male and female-headed migrant households respectively. In-depth interviews were also conducted with officials from Ghana Water Company Limited, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Electricity Company of Ghana, Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, Ministry of Works and Housing as well as an opinion leader within the community.
The study revealed that basic services such as water, toilet, bath house and waste collection bins were not found within the residence of male and female-headed migrant households. They therefore relied on informal vendors to provide them with these services, due to the refusal of service providers of these basic services to extend
their services to them. Informal vendors charged exhorbitant prices forcing migrant households to develop various coping strategies so as to meet their household needs. Female-headed migrant households spent more than their male counterparts in accessing basic services. To meet household needs, they engaged in multiple livelihoods. Their male counterparts on the other hand, were willing but unable to engage in multiple livelihoods due to the lack of jobs and unavailable capital to start their own. Male households therefore relied more on their networks and agency than their female counterparts in order to access basic services or survive in the urban poor space of Old Fadama. The study recommended for a dialogue between the government and appropriate institutions about the future of Old Fadama which should include a possible relocation of the entire market and slum area to a more planned vicinity with a check on the sprouting of illegal structures. Additionally, it recommended a possible check on the activities of private vendors of water, waste, public toilets and baths as well as other services so as to prevent extortion by these businesses of urban poor individuals.
Description
Keywords
Migrant Households, Access to Basic Services, Accessibility, Old Fadama