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New data from the Ghana Statistical Service has revealed that 57.1% of mobile business operators in Ghana earn less than GH¢100 per day, highlighting deep income vulnerabilities within the country’s informal sector.
The findings, captured under the Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES), show that although mobile businesses are widespread, with 82,920 operators nationwide, most operate at subsistence levels, raising concerns about sustainability and long-term productivity.
Despite the low earnings, the sector remains a critical source of employment, particularly for young people. The report indicates that about 60% of mobile operators are aged between 15 and 34 years, positioning mobile trade as a major entry point into the labour market, especially in urban centres where formal job opportunities are limited.
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However, the structure of the sector presents inherent challenges. A significant 85.2% of mobile businesses are engaged in goods trading, largely in retail activities characterised by intense competition and thin profit margins, which constrain income growth.
The data also highlights a strong gender dimension, with women accounting for 77.5% of mobile business operators, suggesting that the sector’s income challenges disproportionately affect female-led livelihoods.
Mobile businesses play an essential role in supporting daily commerce and last-mile distribution, particularly in regions such as the Greater Accra Region and Ashanti Region.
However, operators continue to face significant structural constraints, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of formalised trading systems.
The findings point to the urgent need for targeted policy interventions to strengthen the sector. Experts recommend expanding access to microcredit, digital payment platforms, and skills development programmes to boost productivity and support the transition of small-scale operators into more sustainable and scalable business models.
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