A case study of street food situation in Kumasi: socio-economic aspects and sanitary practicesEtude de cas de la situation de la nourriture vendue dans la rue de Kumasi: les aspects socio-economiques et des pratiques sanitaires

Abstract

The socio-economic characteristics of proprietors and consumers and some sanitary practices in relation to street-vended foods in Kumasi, Ghana, were used as the basis of this study. The study revealed that consumers of street foods cut across the social fabric of the populace and were mainly students, travelers, children, adults, couples, singles, etc. Selection of food by consumers was primarily based on price (32%) and palatability (28%) while vendor selection was solely based on neatness. Analysis using chi-square indicated a significant relationship between marital status and patronage of street-vended foods (P<0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant connection between the income (weekly) of patrons of street foods and the type of foods selected for consumption (P<0.05). Majority of the vendors had less than 10 years of formal education (80%) while the rest had no exposure to any form of formal education. Ironically, while women dominated the street food business (90%), the majority of the patrons were males (68%). Moreover, while majority of the street food vending enterprise were married (76%), the main patrons were singles (84%). The phenomenon of re-using leftover food (56%) without adequate re-heating process (64%) was a familiar practice. There was no significant relationship between treatment of leftover by vendors and the educational status of vendors (P>0.05). There was further revelation of a significant linkage between profits (weekly) made by vendors and the reason (s) that formed the basis for their engagement in the street food vending business (P<0.05). The study also showed that there was no significant relationship between the state of facilities used by vendors and the type of assistance required or the frequency of visits by sanitary/health officials (P>0.05). On the whole, street food vending was found to be an integral and well-accepted entrepreneurial venture in Kumasi. Therefore, it is envisaged that re-structuring, facilitating and incorporating it into the developmental plans of the city would be of tremendous benefit not only to the city's administrators but more importantly the ordinary citizenry.

Keywords: socio-economic characteristics, sanitary conditions, street foods, vendors, consumers

Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana Vol. 3 2004: 203-216