Implications of Hawking Activities on the Kumasi Campus of University of Education, Winneba

Abstract

Street vending or hawking has become an important economic activity highly patronized by persons with limited educational and professional training especially in developing countries. It is characterized by traders transforming public spaces originally unintended for trading purposes into arena of economic activities. The practice has not only found itself in the central business district of major cities and towns but in religious places, educational institutions, offices and lorry parks. This study sought to examine hawking activities and their implications on an educational institution, namely the Kumasi Campus of University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. Using a descriptive study design, structured questionnaires were administered to 60 respondents who were selected randomly. Data obtained from the field were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that hawkers (m=1.03, ±SD=.158) plied their trade along the stretch of road leading to Faculty Block particularly in the afternoon and dealt in various categories of goods with sachet water being mostly sold. Respondents (m=4.50, ±SD=.676) admitted that the desire to sell and earn more profit was the major factor influencing hawking on the Campus. Again respondents (m=3.18, ±SD=1.03) accepted that waste from their activities are mostly dumped in the streets creating a lot of filth with sachet water rubbers forming a greater part. The study proposes that the campus security should be well equipped to enforce to the letter existing rules and regulations on selling in unauthorized areas and students should be sensitised on the dangers of entertaining hawkers and consuming their goods. The study also recommended that mini markets should be set up in areas where students normally patronize hawkers wares.