Shades of informality: taxonomy and operational characteristics of informal economic activities in central Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Urban informal economic activities in the developing world have not been fully understood by city authorities. These viable economic activities are seen as a nuisance and are brutally treated. Using the case of Kumasi, Ghana’s second city, this study draws on multiple qualitative methods to explore the production, form, and dynamics of urban informality. Respondents were selected among street hawkers, market traders, shop owners, city officials and customary authorities. Four main forms of informal economic activities are identified: roaming, settling, attaching, and inserting. The study suggests differential treatment of these informal economic activities and calls for recognition, acceptance, and inclusion.

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