Women Traders at the Elmina Fishing Harbor: Harbingers of Ghana’s Social Development

Abstract

At first sight, the Elmina Fishing Harbor, located in the Central Region of Ghana, is characterized by chaos. From the fishermen shouting out to the middle [wo]men, to the fish mongers busily negotiating with buyers, to the elderly women sitting in the shade who, once in a while, call out to either a passerby or a familiar face, the fishing harbor is full of lively activity. However, within this chaos is an intricate structure of power, negotiation, and resources which largely reflect the social structure of Ghana, and ultimately contribute to the social development of the country. Due to women’s social positions and the types of economic activities they engage in, there are always differences in the ways they benefit from growth and development. However, women in developing economies find ingenious ways to carve niches for themselves in order to empower themselves and others. Adopting a qualitative research technique, this chapter highlights the ways in which women at the Elmina Fishing Harbor use people-centered approaches to empower themselves, reduce their own and others’ vulnerabilities, and promote their inclusion and well-being in Ghanaian society.