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Meet Janet. She sells “wélé” (partially processed cowhide), a delicacy in Ghana. Janet sits in the centre of the supply chain for wélé, procuring the hide from suppliers and selling it to restaurants, other street vendors, and select clients who cook the delicacy. Her workday begins at 2:00 am and ends at 8:00 or 8:30 am.
Use the links in the map below to explore Janet’s workday.
(c) Janet 2021
Janet uses this to travel to work in the morning. She bought this recently and said it makes her travel faster and safer. It transports the hide to her as well at least three times in the day. And when her sale day is over, at 8:30 am, she uses it to take her back home.
Field observations, May 30, 2022, 7:00 am
Photo credit: Janet, (c) 2021
Everyday Janet and her team wash, soak, and pa-boil the hide bought from her suppliers. She does this between 2:30 and 3:30 am. For her, security is a prime concern.
Field observations, May 30, 2022, 3:00 am
When she begins selling, like other market women, Janet sells by torchlight until day breaks. By the time the light is good, however, business is over and it’s time to pack up
Field observations, May 30, 2022
(C) 2022
(c) 2022
The abaeii don’t just manage space, they arbitrate fights between the market women and their customers. Here you see the abaeii tell Janet that he had to come in because a customer complained, but that he ‘knew’ her and knew she was not at fault.
Field observations, May 30, 2022, 6:40 am
Peek through the fence to see where Janet used to sell at Salaga Market. Eventually, the government put up this corrugated sheet barrier to stop vendors from returning to the construction.
(c) Janet 2021
