The Secret Lives of Hawkers: A Day in the Life on the Streets

By Jerry

Accra, Ghana — At 5:30 a.m., before the city stirs to life, 17-year-old Ama Sarpong is already on the road with a basin full of boiled eggs on her head. Balancing the load with practiced ease, she walks briskly along Ring Road Central, dodging early traffic, calling out: “Eggs, hot eggs, one cedi!”

By midday, she’s drenched in sweat. By nightfall, her voice is hoarse. But on a good day, she takes home ₵60. On a bad one, she returns with aching legs — and unsold eggs.

“I’m the breadwinner in my family,” she says softly. “My mother is sick. My father is gone.”

The Unseen Backbone of the Urban Economy

From boiled eggs and sachet water to phone cards and windscreen wipers, hawkers are the heartbeat of Ghana’s informal economy. They fill the gaps left by formal retail, providing convenience, speed, and affordability to the masses.

But behind every “Pure Water!” shout is a story — of resilience, risk, and relentless hustle.

How Big Is the Hustle?

According to Ghana Statistical Service data:

Over 1.2 million people engage in informal trading, including hawking
65% of hawkers are under the age of 30
A significant number are young women and single mothers
Hawking contributes billions of cedis to local consumption annually

Despite their economic significance, street hawkers remain largely invisible to policy and protection.

A Typical Day on the Streets

4:30 a.m. – Wake up and prepare goods
6:00 a.m. – Arrive at hotspots: traffic intersections, markets, lorry stations
7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Sell non-stop, with few breaks
8:00 p.m. – Return home, count earnings, prep for the next day

“We don’t rest,” says Kwame, a 23-year-old who sells phone chargers near 37 Hospital. “We rest when there’s traffic.”

Why Hawking?

For many, it’s not a choice. It’s a last resort.

School dropout due to poverty
Job market exclusion
Family survival needs
Migration from rural areas with no urban safety nets

“I came from Bolgatanga to find work,” says 16-year-old Thomas. “I thought I’d be in a shop. Instead, I’m in traffic.”

The Risks of the Road

Street hawking is dangerous. Every day, hawkers face:

Vehicular accidents — some fatal
Harassment by city authorities and security forces
Weather exposure — sunburns, dehydration, chills
Petty theft
Sexual abuse, especially among young female hawkers

Ama was once chased by a trotro and fell, injuring her wrist. “No one helped,” she recalls. “They just shouted for me to get off the road.”

Policing Poverty: A Double Standard?

While city authorities often carry out “decongestion exercises,” hawkers say they are treated like criminals.

“They seize our goods, beat us, and ask for bribes,” claims Kwame. “But we’re not stealing — we’re selling.”

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly defends its actions as necessary for urban order and pedestrian safety. But critics say crackdowns disproportionately target the poor, without offering alternatives.

Gendered Struggles

For female hawkers, the struggle is amplified:

Harassment by buyers, male hawkers, and law enforcement
Lack of toilets and hygiene facilities
Burden of childcare and household duties after hawking
Stigma for “being on the street”

Yet, women like Ama persist — driven by love, duty, and survival.

“I want my little brother to stay in school,” she says. “So I’ll keep selling.”

Microeconomy in Motion

Hawkers are not just sellers — they are a mobile supply chain.

Distributors drop off goods on credit
Hawkers repay daily from sales
Profits are thin — often ₵10–₵50 per day
Some hawkers save through susu groups, dreaming of a kiosk someday

“I save ₵5 a day,” says Kwame. “It’s slow, but better than nothing.”

The Hope Behind the Hustle

Despite it all, hawkers dream big.

Some want to open kiosks or corner stores
Others hope to return to school
Many aspire to leave the streets for good

NGOs like Street Sense Organisation and Plan International Ghana run mentorship and vocational programs for young hawkers, but reach remains limited.

What Can Be Done?

Experts suggest:

Designated hawking zones with sanitation and safety infrastructure
Credit facilities tailored for micro-traders
Legal recognition and registration to protect hawkers from abuse
Vocational training and business incubation
Social protection for child hawkers and female heads of households

“Informal doesn’t mean illegal,” says urban policy advocate Nana Kofi Yeboah. “We must include — not exclude — the people who keep our cities running.”

Final Thought

Street hawkers are not loiterers. They are not criminals. They are workers — overlooked, underpaid, but indispensable.

Their stories are the true pulse of Ghana’s cities. In every sachet, every shouted sale, and every basin, there is dignity. There is struggle. There is hope.

“Someday,” Ama whispers, “I’ll leave the street. But for now, I’ll keep walking.”