A market and community development in West Africa

Abstract

Traders, most of whom are women, spend long hours for a number of days a week in West African markets. These markets take on aspects of a community as market participants' concerns include social welfare issues-sanitation, shelter, child care-as well as issues relating to the commercial functioning of the market. This 'market community' contributes to the income and tax revenues of the wider community. The development priorities of these two communities may conflict leading to a low level of social services at the market and a reduction in the market's economic contribution. This paper examines the dynamics of this conflict in the market town of Techiman, Ghana.