Coping with life in a squatter settlement: The case of migrant women in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

With inner city migrant enclaves in Kumasi bursting at their seams and unable to accommodate the unending streams of in-migrants, a  large-scale squatter settlement emerged on a disused Race Course to provide alternative shelter and quickly developed income generating opportunities. Its recent development, and the predominance of single-unattached women who were in the past seen as passive movers, provides a special research opportunity. Based on a sample of 100 female  respondents, the research found that this overcrowded, unprotected,  insecure and unsanitary environment was particularly challenging for the women as they coped with issues associated with their unique needs for shelter, safety and security. Contrary to popular perception, the settlement accommodated not only long-distance migrants but also Asantes who traditionally consider Kumasi as their home territory and were therefore expected to have been accommodated by a network of family members in indigenous Asante suburbs. Efforts to reduce their vulnerabilities will involve addressing their special needs through the delivery of affordable rental
units and commercial space.

Keywords: migrant women, coping mechanisms, squatter settlement