Accra turns lives around: female migrant traders and their empowerment experiences in Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

This paper examines young female migrants working as petty traders in the Accra Metropolitan Area. It discusses the processes through which female migrant traders as economic actors have used migration and trading as pathways to empower themselves through an analysis of their control over material and non-material resources, their choices in life and their ability to influence the direction of change. The author argues that young female migrants must not be looked at only in the context of vulnerability but rather seen as agents of change and people who can change their life circumstances, that of their families and make life choices. Facilitation of measures by relevant stakeholders to support the efforts of these female migrant traders as positive agents of change is recommended.

Keywords

• Empowerment
• Ghana
• migrant
• trading
• women
• gender