16/10/2015
On the left side of the car is a "marcho" man with knives and hammers. To the right of it is another with spanners and screw drivers. At the back is a lady with machetes and hoes. Right in front of the car is another lady with sacks and bags. Could they be armed robbers? Never mind, they are just HAWKERS who are trying their hardest to make a living.
Even before the early morning fowl crows, many of the people who have turned the major streets in Accra and other parts of the country into super markets had set off for the day's job. Little time do they have to wile away the previous day's stress of running track and field to sell to interested customers.
Most of the hawkers found on the streets of Accra, Kumasi, Ho, among others are not solely made up of school drop outs and uneducated young men and women. As a matter of fact, a sizeable number of these hawkers are people with Junior High and or Senior High Certificates.
While others have given up the race of ever leaving the streets, except the government helps them with money to start a business with, others however are simply on the streets to gather enough money to either further their education or sign a contract as apprentices.
Some of the hawkers who would only speak to me on anonymity tell me that they are not from very poor homes that cannot afford their school fees or apprenticeship fees but the unwillingness on the parts of well to-do extended family members to support them.
One lady told me a young man he used to sell P.K chewing gum with on the street is now a prison warder with the Ghana Prison Service after furthering his education. And I am proud to say that I know him really well.
Street hawking may be unlawful and disturbing, but a critical look at the situations that pushed some of these young men and women into street hawking at a point gives you a reason to side with their illegal acts. Some identify the slow nature of sales and the unavailability of shelves in the markets as reasons for their presence on the streets.
One thing that is common with all hawkers is the Usain Bolt speed at which they run towards their prospective buyers no matter how fast their cars as are running. Sometimes they are unable to catch up with these drivers as they drive at a Formula 1 speed while signaling an interest in a commodity.
From all indications, these hawkers are not interested in risking their lives on the streets but situations in the society have almost relegated them to a "career" which almost puts their safety in the hands of drivers and motor riders.
As bad and illegal hawking may appear, those involved say they have no choice but try their best to make ends meet and are hopeful that a day will come when they will leave the streets to the rightful owners - drivers, motor riders, and pedestrians. Before you jump to judge anyone on the street, try your smallest best to ask "WHY?" before you do so and you would wish you never asked.
The practice cannot end any time soon as long as there are no favourable conditions for the less privileged in society to hold on to.
