“Red means go inside, green means come outside”: traffic rhythms, navigations and work-related mobilities of street hawkers

This paper investigates the employment-related mobilities of street hawkers along the George Walker Bush Highway in Accra, Ghana, highlighting how mobility sustains their livelihoods. Using interviews and participant observation, the study explores hawkers’ “mobility to work,” “mobility at work,” and “mobility after work.” Findings reveal their reliance on diverse transport modes, logistical strategies for moving goods, and adaptability to urban rhythms, traffic patterns, and economic pressures. Gendered dynamics emerge, with men and women specializing in different products and roles, while seasonal changes and transportation costs further shape mobility choices. The analysis situates street hawking as an adaptive response to urban inequalities, reflecting entrepreneurial resilience despite precarious conditions. Framed within the new mobility paradigm, the paper underscores the need for inclusive urban policies that address the challenges hawkers face, such as affordable transport, designated trade spaces, and improved safety mechanisms to support their contributions to the urban economy.