IMANI Center for Policy and Education is calling on the government to consider the regularization and formalization of some neglected but critical informal sectors such as street hawking and head pottering widely known as kayayei.
The proposal from one of the leading Ghanaian think tanks follows the government’s move to regularize and formalize the Okada transport business. The center wants the transformation the government is introducing into the Okada sector be extended to street hawking and pottering.
In a critical analysis of the proposal cited by The High Street Journal, the policy think tank says these urban survival strategies, often dismissed as chaotic, could become organised, dignified and sustainable livelihoods with the right regulatory and technological interventions.
In IMANI’s argument, the informal economy in Ghana is far broader than just commercial motorbike transport. Thousands of Ghanaians, mostly women and youth, who migrate from many parts of the country to the cities mostly depend on selling goods in traffic, pushing carts, or carrying heavy loads in markets.
These persons often operate under precarious conditions with little to no institutional support and regulation while they struggle to survive. IMANI believes that if Okada is undergoing such a transformation, then it’s time to for same to be extended to these areas.
“Ghana’s informal economy is not limited to okadas. Sectors such as traffic hawking, pottering (kayayei), and carting have long provided livelihoods despite minimal support from successive governments. In the major cities, hawkers and vendors are forced to sell their wares on pavements because a lack of dedicated markets keeps them out of the mainstream economy,” IMANI lamented.
The center proposes that among a number of options, the hawkers who are currently to plying their trade on pavements and in traffic can be designated special marketplaces or flexible trading zones. Coupled with digital registration, IMANI says skill development programs, and microfinance support could turn informal traders into viable entrepreneurs.
The think tank noted that “With targeted policy reform, these ventures can also be modernised using strategies similar to those proposed for okadas. Instead of remaining a survival strategy marked by vulnerability and exploitation, they could evolve into an organized, dignified, and sustainable urban service.”
The payoff, according to IMANI, would be enormous, not just for the individuals involved but for national development as a whole.
IMANI proposal was inspired from some parts of Asia, where traditional rickshaw systems which were once seen as outdated have been transformed through the adoption of motorised vehicles, app-based coordination, and government-backed certifications. These changes have redefined last-mile mobility services, now estimated to be a $5.5 billion market in 2024 with projections to double by 2034.
“The evolution of these systems shows that with proper regulatory support and technological integration, even the most informal of ventures can be revitalised to drive urban mobility and economic inclusion,” IMANI noted.
The think tank envisions similar possibilities for Ghana. IMANI is imagining system where street vendors operate through a digital platform that coordinates locations, peak trading times, and customer feedback; or kayayei with certified safety gear, access to health insurance, and a path to financial independence.
This proposal, if implemented, has the potential to enhance social equity and mobility. Most hawkers and kayayei are women and young people with little formal education. By legitimising their work, the state would not only be affirming their right to earn a living but also opening up channels for upward mobility through training, savings schemes, and eventually, alternative career paths.
