Ghana traffic hawkers are part of a growing informal economy that keeps thousands of people alive. But every day, they face one of the country’s most dangerous working conditions — selling in between moving cars. At traffic lights across Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, they brave speeding vehicles just to earn a few cedis.
Some carry chilled water on their heads. Others offer plantain chips, chewing gum, or handkerchiefs. A few even sprint from car to car with flags, newspapers, or phone accessories.
They are Ghana’s traffic hawkers — part of a large, informal economy that keeps thousands alive but puts them in constant danger. What many commuters ignore is that these individuals are working in one of the most hazardous environments imaginable: in between moving cars.
So why are they there? And what will it take to get them out of harm’s way?
Why Ghana Traffic Hawkers Risk Their Lives
Hawkers don’t wake up hoping to run between cars.
The story of Ghana traffic hawkers isn’t just about street selling — it’s about a broken system. Most of them didn’t choose this life willingly. They ended up there because of limited options, poverty, and a lack of affordable shop spaces.
One hawker told Voices of Concern:
“I sell on the street because I have no handiwork. We’re not here because we want to be. We’re scared — but the grace of God keeps us. Anything can happen.”
Another said:
“If you’re careful, no car will knock you down. Some of us have no husbands. This roadside is our husband. It helps us raise our kids.”
These are not lazy people. These are survivors.
An Unregulated System Failing Its People
According to economist Professor Elvis Cornerstone, Ghana’s street economy is growing faster than the systems meant to regulate it.
“The price of a shop… even in Accra markets… can be very expensive,” he explained.
“Most of the people we see on the street do not have what it takes to rent a small shop. What they can afford is the street.”
He adds that government must do more than push people off the roads.
“We need to organise these markets. What shops can we make available? What training can we provide? What kind of funding can we offer? These steps can go a long way to help.”
Politics Getting in the Way of Progress
Local assemblies are often blamed for allowing traffic hawking to grow — but officials say the problem is more complicated.
Bernard Fordjour, Assistant Physical Planning Officer at the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly, points to both infrastructure gaps and political interference.
“Let’s take Agbogbloshie as an example — the infrastructure is poor, and they don’t have enough shops to accommodate everybody.”
“We try to remove them, but then we face political pressure. In 2021, during an operation at Obetsebi bypass, an assemblyman asked us to stop because elections were near. That’s the reality we face.”
This means that even when local authorities try to act, they’re blocked — all to avoid upsetting voters.
The Deadly Risks of Selling on the Road
While politicians stall, lives are lost.
Pearl Satekla, Public Relations Officer for the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), says the danger is constant:
“One or two times, vehicles lose control and run into street hawkers — killing them or injuring them instantly. But unfortunately, we don’t have separate statistics. It’s all calculated under pedestrian knockdowns.”
Pearl explains that while the NRSA runs educational campaigns, they’re not enough:
“We educate them… but as soon as you leave, they go back. That’s why enforcement is key. We work with the police — we educate, and they enforce.”
Still, enforcement is often brief and inconsistent. Once the operation ends, the hawkers return — because they have nowhere else to go.
A Safer Way Forward?
So what’s the alternative? According to Pearl, Ghana needs designated vending zones near high-traffic areas — safe spots where commuters can stop to buy, without putting hawkers in danger.
“Assemblies can partner with private people to set up designated selling points. Places where passengers know they can stop and buy. That way, hawkers don’t have to stand in traffic.”
It’s a call that echoes what we heard in Trading on Roads and Unsafe Walkways — stories that exposed how poor urban planning and enforcement failures endanger lives every day.
If Ghana doesn’t take this seriously, more people will die. And the root causes — unemployment, affordability, lack of regulation — will only deepen.
We Can’t Look Away
Street hawkers aren’t just part of the problem. They’re part of the picture. And ignoring them won’t solve anything.
The only way forward is a combination of:
- Affordable, accessible alternatives to roadside vending
- Consistent and fair enforcement (not just election-season cleanups)
- Public education for both hawkers and commuters
- Collaborative planning between assemblies and the communities they serve
Until then, every red light will remain a gamble — for the people working in the lanes, and for the drivers and pedestrians sharing the space with them.
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🟡 Related stories:
- Trading on Roads: The Urban Space Crisis in Ghana
- Unsafe Walkways: A Simple Walk Shouldn’t Be a Gamble
Source: VoicesofConcern.com
