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THE IMPACT OF CHINESE BUSINESS ON MARKET ENTRY IN GHANA AND SENEGAL

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2013

Laurence Marfaing  and
Alena Thiel
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Abstract

In this article we analyse the currently observable changes in the norms and orders that regulate market entry in the Ghanaian and Senegalese trade sectors. We portray the three distinct ways in which – facilitated by the presence of independent Chinese migrants – previously excluded actors are now able to enter the market, without needing to rely on the networks that typically mediate access to start-up capital needs – such as selling space, marketing skills and, not least, capital stock. Creatively appropriating the new situation, these previously excluded actors have thus found in the Chinese presence a means of bypassing restrictive economic, social and religious networks. In-depth ethnographic fieldwork in 2011 and 2012 has revealed that while aspiring traders from Ghana and Senegal applaud the newly opened pathways to gainful economic activity, more established local merchants in the urban centres of both countries feel and express, in contrast, a discontent with the growing Chinese presence – as they see their role as gatekeepers of the market order being increasingly undermined.

Résumé

Nous observons tant au Sénégal qu'au Ghana des changements dans les normes d'accès au commerce ainsi que dans l'ordre établi qui régule le marché. Effectivement, la présence des migrants chinois à Dakar et Accra permet à de nouveaux acteurs – de facto exclus des réseaux religieux, sociaux et économiques en place qui permettent formation, accès au marché et au capital et finalement au commerce – de contourner les normes d'accès au commerce en tirant judicieusement tirer parti de la présence chinoise. Un travail de terrain effectué en 2011 et 2012 nous a permis de constater comment ces nouveaux « commerçants » ont le don de tirer parti des activités commerciales chinoises et neutralisent par là le rôle des opérateurs économiques établis et l'ordre d'accès au marché qu'ils se transmettent. L'objectif de cet article est d'en présenter et d'en analyser les comportements novateurs, les stratégies utilisées, nous en distinguons trois, et d'en montrer les conséquences au niveau de l'ordre établi, tant commercial que social.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 83 , Issue 4 , November 2013 , pp. 646 - 669
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2013 

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References

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INTERVIEWS

Employee No. 16 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 8 February, Accra (male, 26 years old, employment with Chinese shoe wholesaler introduced through elder sister who is a customer, employed since 2010).

Employee No. 25 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 17 February, Accra (male, about 30 years old, one of several employees in a Chinese shop dealing in construction materials in the widest sense).

Employee No. 28 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 20 February, Accra (male, 26 years old, employed in a Chinese shoe shop from 2008 to 2012).

Employee No. 29 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 21 February, Accra (male, about 25 years old, tertiary training, employment with Chinese to support his studies).

Expert No. 55 (Ghana) 2012 interview, 13 January, Accra (representative of Town and Country Planning Department).

ILO/DWCP, 2009 interview, 27 August 2009: National Project Officer, ILO Decent Work Country Programme, Accra, Ghana.

Landlord No. 33 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 23 February, Accra (male, about 50 years old, landlord to both Chinese and Ghanaian shops).

Merchant No. 2 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 31 January, Accra (female, 38 years old, merchant family, works in her own shoe business close to several female relatives' shops in Okaishie market, imports from different Asian countries and USA).

Merchant No. 18 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 13 February, Accra (female, about 40 years old, stationary cloth retailer in Makola market for about 10 years, trained by and inherited market stall from her mother).

Merchant No. 52 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 16 December, Accra (female, about 30 years, jewellery wholesaler at 31st Mall, university training in business administration, took over the mother's business in the absence of employment options).

Trader No. 5 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 31 January, Accra (female, about 20 years old, sells Chinese imported drapery, mobile street vendor in Okaishie market).

Trader No. 9 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 3 and 16 February, Accra (male, 36 years old, trained as shoe maker, started selling high-quality shoe imports from Ghanaian wholesalers but shifted to Chinese wholesalers and cheaper low-quality models to increase turnover, semi-mobile street vendor in Okaishie market since 2011).

Trader No. 21 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 15 February, Accra (female, about 45 years old, semi-mobile shoe retailer in Okaishie market on the sidewalk in front of her grandmother's shop).

Trader No. 26 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 18 February, Accra (female, 21 years old, mobile street vendor, retail of Chinese sandals).

Trader No. 35 (Ghana) 2011 interview, 3 March, Accra (female, together with her sister she has sold Chinese shoes for almost 10 years now).

Chinese Merchant No. 9 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 8 February, Dakar (from Henan, 41 years old, since 2010 in the Centenaire with his brother, one Senegalese employee, interviewed in Mandarin).

Chinese Merchant No. 13 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 9 February, Dakar (from Shanghai, living in Senegal since 2010, 18 years old, his older sister has been in Dakar since 2002, interviewed in Mandarin).

Employee No. 53, (Senegal) 2011, interview 24 October and 14 November, Dakar (he has a high school diploma, is originally from rural Senegal, has worked with his brother next to a Chinese shop since 2002, around 35 years old, good income, interview in French).

Employee No. 56, (Senegal) 2011 interview, 25 October, Dakar (23 years old, secondary school, he has been a street vendor primarily, from rural Senegal, since 2006 he has been working next to a Chinese shop, low income, interview in French).

Expert No. 70 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 3 November, Dakar (representative of Confédération Nationale des Employeurs du Sénégal, interview in French).

Merchant No. 21 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 15 February, Dakar (UNACOIS high member, around 55 years old, interview in French).

Merchant No. 28 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 21 February, Dakar (he was working in Sandaga Market; in 1987 he was a street vendor, then merchant in Europe, USA and now since 2002 he has been in China; he is UNACOIS high member, around 50 years old, and says that concurrence is hard, interview in Wolof and French).

Merchant No. 35 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 20 October, Dakar (woman, merchant family, since 1987 she was working in Europe then Asia – Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong then since 1994 China – 58 years old, today petty manufacturer [chaîne de montage], interview in French).

Merchant No. 47 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 11 March, Dakar (woman, merchant family, she has been travelling to Morocco, Europe then 2000 Dubai and China, she is sewing drapery, shop in HLM-Market, around 50 years old, interview in French).

Merchant No. 83 (Senegal) 2012 interview, 10 July, Dakar (representative of UNACOIS, interview in French).

Trader No. 5 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 7 February, Dakar (former street vendor, working in the Centenaire since 2009; 27 years old, interviewed in French).

Trader No. 44 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 10 March, Dakar (from Saloum, farming family, ‘has 2 jobs', he has been working in Centenaire since 2009, around 28 years old, interview in French).

Trader No. 45 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 10 March, Dakar (his brother has had fashion shoes fabricated in China for sale in Centenaire, since 2007, around 25 years old, without sales licence, interview in Wolof).

Trader No. 46 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 10 March, Dakar (woman, sells breakfast from her home, since 2010 in Centenaire, around 40 years old, interview in French).

Trader No. 49 (Senegal) 2011 interview 25 November, Dakar (farmer and transporter of agricultural products, he is working in Centenaire between seasons since 2008, around 35 years old, interview in Wolof).

Trader No. 82 (Senegal) 2011 interview, 10 July, Dakar (SINACOIS member, about 75 years old).