Socioeconomic impact of street food vending on SHS graduates

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to assess the socio-economic impact of the street food vending on graduates of senior high schools. The study was guided by three main objectives which were, analyzing the various kinds of food or meals sold by vendors, evaluating the level of revenue generated in sustaining and maintaining their family members and finally assess problems associated with street food vending. This study was exploratory as well as descriptive under conclusive research. A sample size of 60 food vendors was selected for this study. This constituted 20 vendors from three strata or zones of the municipality. The municipality was divided into three strata namely New Dormaa-Kotokrom, Abesim and Sunyani New Town. The researcher used simple random respondent to respond to questionnaires and interviews designed for the study from each stratum. With regards to the sampling technique, the study employed the purposive sampling and purposive random sampling technique. This study also made use of observation and semi structured questionnaire as the main source of instruments for data collection. The results of the study showed that, most of the respondents vend hot meals which include meals such as tomato stew with rice, shito with waakye, okro stew, shito with banku and fried fish with kenkey. Also, most of the respondents make about GhC100 to GhC200 as revenue and finally, it was found that the most challengeing issues affecting the respondents in vending were, cost of raw materials, access to potable water, theft by employees and outsiders, loan repayment and workers or employees. It was therefore recommended that, policy makers as well as government bodies should enact laws and opportunities that create an enabling environment for SHS graduate food vendors to operate and also, stakeholders such as government and non-governmental bodies should help in continuous supply of potable water, sanitation and waste management services in the natural markets should be engaged by local waste collectors and municipal personnel.