Chinese Entrepreneurial Migrants in Ghana: Socioeconomic Impacts and Ghanaian Trader Attitudes

Chinese Entrepreneurial Migrants in Ghana: Socioeconomic Impacts and Ghanaian Trader Attitudes

Author: 
Dankwah, Kwaku Opoku
Publisher: 
Cambridge University Press
Date published: 
2019
Record type: 
Responsibility: 
Valenta, Marko, jt. author
Journal Title: 
The Journal of Modern African Studies
Source: 
The Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 57, N0. 1, 2019 pp. 1-29
Abstract: 

This article explores attitudes of Ghanaian traders towards an increasing Chinese influx into Ghanaian trading spaces and the impacts of Chinese merchants on Ghanaian traders and trading spaces. Despite a late entrance of Chinese merchants into Ghanaian trading spaces relative to Lebanese, Indians and Nigerians, the abrupt change in size of the Chinese trading community along with its huge capital and cheap goods have had big impacts on local trading spaces. We maintain that relations between Ghanaian traders and Chinese counterparts may be roughly described as complementary, collaborative and competitive. While the Chinese impacts are seen as positive by some Ghanaian traders and landlords, they are negative for others. Yet, we argue that these relations are also nuanced and rooted in each Ghanaian trader's position amidst the Chinese presence. This article contributes to the literature on dynamics of South-to-South movements. It adds to growing studies on contemporary Chinese emigrations and accompanying impacts in host communities.

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CITATION: Dankwah, Kwaku Opoku. Chinese Entrepreneurial Migrants in Ghana: Socioeconomic Impacts and Ghanaian Trader Attitudes . : Cambridge University Press , 2019. The Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 57, N0. 1, 2019 pp. 1-29 - Available at: https://library.au.int/chinese-entrepreneurial-migrants-ghana-socioeconomic-impacts-and-ghanaian-trader-attitudes-0