Women dominate Ghana’s informal business sector while thousands of children remain engaged in trading activities, according to new data by the Ghana Statistical Service, which underscores both the sector’s role in livelihoods and emerging social risks.
The Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES I), presented by Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu, found that women account for nearly 80% of workers in open-space businesses and about 77.5% of mobile traders. At the same time, more than 2,000 children aged 10 to 14 were identified as active in mobile trading, with girls making up the majority.
“These businesses were visible in daily life, but largely invisible in official statistics. IBES I changes that,” Iddrisu said during the release.
The census identified 2.64 million businesses nationwide, with about 30% operating outside fixed structures. Of these, 693,748 operate in open spaces such as pavements and roadside stalls, while 82,920 are mobile traders who move between locations.
Women and youth drive the sector
The findings point to a sector heavily driven by women and young people. Around 60% of mobile business operators are aged between 15 and 35, making informal trade a key entry point into employment.
“These businesses are therefore critical for livelihoods, especially for women and young people. They also play a very important role in bringing goods closer to households and to our communities,” Iddrisu said.
Open-space businesses alone employ more than 922,000 people nationwide, reinforcing their role as a major pillar of employment. Retail trade, particularly food, dominates both segments. About 68.4% of open-space businesses and roughly 64% of mobile traders focus on food and beverage sales, reflecting strong demand in densely populated urban areas.
The businesses are concentrated in key commercial regions, including Greater Accra and Ashanti, where population density and market activity are highest. Despite their scale, earnings remain modest. More than half of mobile traders earn less than 100 cedis per day, while about a third of open-space businesses report similar income levels, even as many operators work extended hours. The data suggest a sector marked by resilience but constrained by low productivity and limited income stability.
Policy implications
The statistics agency said the findings highlight both opportunities and challenges. Informal businesses provide widespread employment and support access to goods, but face structural constraints including limited financing, exposure to weather conditions and weak infrastructure.
The report shows that informal trade is a major economic force, particularly for women and youth, but also exposes underlying vulnerabilities, including child labor and low earnings. While the sector supports millions of livelihoods, its dominance points to gaps in formal job creation. Addressing these issues through targeted policies could improve productivity and incomes while reducing social risks.
Expanding access to finance, improving market infrastructure and strengthening enforcement of child protection measures will be critical to supporting the sector’s long-term development.
