The Regulation of Street Foods: Experiences of Front-Line Regulators in Ghana

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Regulation of Street Foods

T2 - Experiences of Front-Line Regulators in Ghana

AU - Forkour, John Boulard

AU - Samuelsen, Helle

AU - Yeboah, Eric Henry

AU - Rheinländer, Thilde

AU - Akuoko, Kofi Osel

PY - 2017/9/1

Y1 - 2017/9/1

N2 - There has been a lot of research on the relationship between regulators and street vendors, often portraying regulators as bullies of vulnerable vendors. However, there is little documentation on urban regulators and their challenges as they implement their mandates. This paper investigates the challenges and negotiating strategies of regulators of street-vended foods in Ghana and analyses the implication for their relationship with street food vendors. The paper reveals that regulators operate in a context of limited resources, leading to a general feeling of neglect. In coping, regulators adopt strategies that encourage harassment of vendors and increase tensions between vendors and regulators. Thus, this study establishes relations between the challenges and negotiating strategies of regulators and the poor relations that exist between regulators and vendors. This paper argues that motivating and addressing the needs of regulators can serve as an important basis for eliminating harassment and for improving the relationships between regulators and street vendors.

AB - There has been a lot of research on the relationship between regulators and street vendors, often portraying regulators as bullies of vulnerable vendors. However, there is little documentation on urban regulators and their challenges as they implement their mandates. This paper investigates the challenges and negotiating strategies of regulators of street-vended foods in Ghana and analyses the implication for their relationship with street food vendors. The paper reveals that regulators operate in a context of limited resources, leading to a general feeling of neglect. In coping, regulators adopt strategies that encourage harassment of vendors and increase tensions between vendors and regulators. Thus, this study establishes relations between the challenges and negotiating strategies of regulators and the poor relations that exist between regulators and vendors. This paper argues that motivating and addressing the needs of regulators can serve as an important basis for eliminating harassment and for improving the relationships between regulators and street vendors.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Ghana

KW - Street Food

KW - Street Vendors

U2 - 10.1007/s12132-017-9309-0

DO - 10.1007/s12132-017-9309-0

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1015-3802

VL - 28

SP - 251

EP - 269

JO - Urban Forum

JF - Urban Forum

IS - 3

ER -