The Integrated Business Establishment Survey I (IBES I) has unveiled comprehensive data on Ghana’s mobile business sector, highlighting that there are 82,920 identified mobile businesses operating across the country.
These businesses, which function without fixed locations, through hawking, head-portage, or using vehicles and carts, play a crucial role in the nation’s informal economy.
Results from the survey show that 94.2% of mobile business operators are Ghanaians, with 77.5% (64,237) of these enterprises being run by women.
The Greater Accra and Ashanti regions dominate the mobile business landscape, hosting more than 50% of all such operations; 24,962 in Greater Accra and 16,800 in Ashanti.
According to the survey, the youth are heavily involved, with six in every 10 mobile business operators aged 15 to 35.
Among younger operators (15–35 years), males dominate the 25–29 age group, while females lead in the 30–34 bracket.
The survey also notes the involvement of children aged 10–14 in mobile businesses, with 2,087 operators in this age group, 80% of whom are female.
Over 80% of child operators work for others rather than owning their businesses.
Regional insights indicate that non-Ghanaian mobile businesses are more prevalent in border regions like Upper West, Volta, and North East.
It also noted that eight in 10 operators own the products they sell, and retail sale of food accounts for 63.6% of mobile business activities, followed by non-food retail at 21.6%.
Economic impacts include 35.9% of operators working at least nine hours daily, with 55% of those earning over ₵900 a day also working nine-plus hours.
Female operators are more engaged in food retail (74.5%) compared to males (26.1%).
The growth of mobile entrepreneurship highlights its vital contribution to Ghana’s economy, especially for young people and women, and underscores the need for policies protecting young workers and boosting productivity in this dynamic sector.
