While the spotlight might be on the candidates of Ghana’s December 7th election, there’s another group poised to emerge victorious, street vendors selling snacks, pure water, and the ever-iconic “Nkosua ne M3ko,” which is boiled egg with pepper.
Voters will be enduring long queues to make their voices heard, but these savvy entrepreneurs will be doing brisk business on what is undoubtedly one of their most profitable days of the year.
The Hunger and Thirst Factor
Election day in Ghana is almost synonymous with long waits. Arrive at your polling station early, and you’ll likely still find a line stretching as far as the eye can see. With voting often taking hours under the blazing sun, hunger and thirst become inevitable companions for voters. That’s where vendors step in, turning this challenge into a golden opportunity.
From chilled sachet water to roasted plantains and the ubiquitous “Nkosua ne M3ko,” these street-side sellers offer quick, affordable, and satisfying options to sustain voters as they wait. It’s not just food, it’s a lifeline for many who simply can’t leave the queue to grab a proper meal.
The Business of Elections
Election day has evolved into a predictable economic opportunity for vendors. Polling stations, especially those in urban centers, become micro markets buzzing with activity. Vendors instinctively understand the dynamics: large crowds, limited mobility, and a captive audience create the perfect conditions for sales.
Their business strategy is simple but effective, set up near polling stations, keep the offerings portable, and cater to the crowd’s immediate needs. It’s grassroots entrepreneurship at its finest, driven by the understanding that on election day, convenience trumps all else.
Why “Nkosua ne M3ko” Always Wins
Among the lineup of snacks, boiled eggs with pepper sauce remain a crowd favorite. Their appeal lies in their simplicity, no utensils required, easy to carry, and surprisingly filling. Paired with a sachet of water, it’s the perfect election-day combo, providing both sustenance and relief in a pinch.
Other items like roasted groundnuts, fried yam, and plantain chips also make appearances, but there’s something iconic about the sight of vendors weaving through the queues with baskets of eggs and pepper sauce. It’s a tradition as much as it is a business.
A Day of Economic Activity
Beyond the polls, election day is a showcase of the informal economy’s resilience and adaptability. These vendors don’t just provide a service, they remind us of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Ghana’s economy. For many, the profits earned on this single day rival what they might make in weeks under normal circumstances.
A Small Price for Democracy
For voters, these snack vendors are more than just opportunists, they’re a crucial part of the election experience. They provide the sustenance needed to power through the democratic process, ensuring no one has to choose between hunger and casting their ballot.
So, as Ghanaians prepare to queue up on December 7th, one thing is certain, while the results of the election remain unpredictable, snack vendors will undoubtedly have a landslide victory of their own. For them, democracy doesn’t just deliver votes, it delivers profits.
