Why The Informal Sector Matters

The rainy season in Accra brings both promise and peril. On one hand, the downpours offer hope of fresh harvests, improved food supply, and a temporary break in the relentless heat. But for those of us familiar with navigating Makola or Madina markets, even a light drizzle can trigger anxiety. It’s a signal to rush back before roads flood, and transportation grinds to a halt.

The traders in these markets are among players in Ghana’s informal sector, which makes up over 70% of the economy. Within that, market women who trade in open-air markets form a huge portion of the workforce, accounting for nearly 80% of informal employment in Accra. These women are the backbone of our food systems, the first stop for most households’ daily goods, and some of the most climate-vulnerable workers in the country.

They sit out in the scorching sun daily, exposed to intense heat and surrounded by unsanitary conditions. When rains come, their stalls flood, their goods spoil, and their earnings shrink. They may not understand climate change, but know what it feels like because they experience it directly and repeatedly. In my research with market women in Accra’s Agbogbloshie and Makola markets, many of them shared how the changing climate has already disrupted their work. Yet, what stood out to me most was their willingness to change if only they were given the tools and recognition.

They’re Already Doing the Work
Although the informal sector is often perceived as a barrier to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8 of “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, it holds immense, untapped potential. In particular, the resilience, innovation, and strong community networks of key actors like market women who trade daily in Ghana’s open-air markets must be recognized and harnessed.

Despite facing numerous challenges, many market women are already engaged in green practices, though they may not call it that. Some sell their vegetable scraps to poultry farmers. Others reuse materials and informally segregate waste. In areas where municipal waste collection fails, informal recyclers and “kaya boys” step in to collect and sell plastics.

Their motivations in participating in Ghana’s green economy transition are real and urgent: to control plastic pollution, avoid disease, and follow sanitation rules. But they are held back by barriers like limited education in local languages, unaffordable eco-friendly packaging, and poor waste management from city authorities. Without support, these women cannot scale their efforts or connect them to the broader green economy movement.