MIGRANTS IN THE TRADE SECTOR OF GHANA: THE CASE OF CHINESE MIGRANTS

ABSTRACT

Migration is one of the most topical issues in the last decades due to its complex nature and both the benefits and challenges that come with it. The growing Chinese presence in Africa has led to several agitations and strong public opinions. In recent times, this new trend of migration by Chinese has led to the influx of Chinese products and the rapid growth of small Chines shops. This has been viewed as posing as an obstacle to the indigenes who are managing the informal sector thereby hindering the progress of local factories. Thus, in Ghana the influx of Chines and importation of cheap Chinese products has been one of the most talked about issues.

In the wake of various pockets of agitations that continuously arise from Ghanaian traders with respect to the presence of Chinese traders in the trading sector, this study consequently, sought to examine the risks involved for Ghana due to the Chinese traders‘ presence in the country. The study specifically examined the risks, threats and potential health challenges Chinese trade pose to Ghana. The study used a systematic review method to assess Chinese trading activities in Ghana; threats to local businesses. Studies which used qualitative, quantitative and mixed designs are included in this study. Reports on Chinese in migration into Ghana, their contribution to the economy of Ghana as well as the threats they pose to local businesses in Ghana were included. Methodical electronic searches of databases such as ProQuest Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, JSTOR were undertaken.

In Ghana, one of the main threats facing the trading industry is the smuggling of Chinese prints through the borders. Smuggling de-regulates the Ghanaian market; that is, it undermines the protective element of the import tariff (and fees and taxes) as it significantly reduces the price at which the Chinese African print may be sold. This makes Ghana‗s textile companies unable to compete on their main market, and even the domestic market which may lead to all those local companies producing these fabrics collapsing. The influx of these cheap Chinese goods in the Ghanaian markets compromise on health and safety standards in the manufacturing process. The illegal mining activities by the Chinese have increased pregnancy, high prevalence of HIV as well as increase in respiratory condition