Background Characteristics of Respondents
The background characteristics that this study focused on were age, educational level, occupation, ethnic background, religious affiliation, marital status and place of residence.
Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents (N = 10)
Characteristics
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
Age
|
|
|
20-29
|
2
|
20
|
30-39
|
6
|
60
|
40-49
|
2
|
20
|
Ethnicity
|
|
|
Akan
|
7
|
70
|
Ewe
|
1
|
10
|
Ga/Adangbe
|
1
|
10
|
Mole Dagbani
|
1
|
10
|
Marital Status
|
|
|
Not Married
|
7
|
70
|
Married
|
3
|
30
|
Level of Education
|
|
|
Primary
|
3
|
30
|
Middle/JSS
|
6
|
60
|
Secondary
|
1
|
10
|
Occupation
|
|
|
Shoe-shine Business
|
10
|
100
|
Residence
|
|
|
Kotokraba
|
2
|
20
|
Abura
|
3
|
30
|
Amamoma
|
1
|
10
|
Apewosika
|
1
|
10
|
Antem
|
3
|
30
|
Religion
|
|
|
Christianity
|
7
|
70
|
Islam
|
2
|
20
|
African Traditional Religion
|
1
|
10
|
Duration at place of residence (years)
|
|
|
>1
|
2
|
20
|
2-10
|
6
|
60
|
<11
|
2
|
20
|
|
|
|
Number of Occupants at Place of Residence
|
|
|
1-5
|
8
|
80
|
6-10
|
2
|
20
|
Source: Fieldwork, March 2021
Place of Origin
Respondents indicated that they migrated from the following towns: Abokrom-Kissi, Mankessim, Accra, Asante Bekwai, Kaneshie, Adansi Fomena and Elmina.
Purpose for Migrating
While some of the respondents mentioned that they wanted to change their working environment, employment opportunity was the major factor they migrating. The study revealed that economic factors serve as a key reason for individuals who migrated to Cape Coast Metropolis to engage in shoeshine business. According to Ghana Statistical Service (2014), economic factors are the main drivers for migration. Most of the research participants mentioned work or employment as the main reason they migrated to Cape Coast:
I moved to Cape Coast to work and landed in this shoe shine business because man must survive. I am guy and everyone looks up to me (28, married, Secondary School).
Nature of Work
Some of the respondents mention that they needed to get a job and the shoe-shine business was the employment opportunity available at the time. They believed the shoe-shine business offered them the opportunity that they need to work and they could not sit idle without doing anything:
It’s a long story but in all, after school, my dad died and I couldn’t get support from anywhere. I sat in the house and I said man has to work to make ends needs. Then, I decided to get some job doing. That is how I came into this shoe shine business (28, married, Secondary School).
Respondents indicated that they got start-up capital for the shoe-shine business from their friends and family. This is consistent with the theoretical proposition of the determinants of migrant vulnerability model which postulates that families are important in determining vulnerabilities, as they are generally the first option for people in need of support, especially children and youth (IOM, 2004). The following quote is a response from one of the participant:
I took money from my mother to buy plenty things [working gears] to start everything. I took like 7 cedis from her to buy stuffs for the shoe shine job (42, not married, Primary School).
The participants indicated that before the Covid-19 pandemic, their operations in the shoe-shine business was good. They were able to make a lot of money and take care of their families at home. Work was normal before the covid-19 as captured in the following excerpts:
Work was good and fruitful. I enjoyed working because I could make lots of money and able to help others and family members. Before covid, working was smooth and enjoyable (28, not married, Secondary School).
Participants mentioned that the covid-19 has affected the work. Their work is no longer the way it was on a normal day. The income they get has reduced and their customer base has also been affected by covid-19. This finding is consistent with findings made by Tanle (2018b) who reveal that health issues were an obstacle in the shoe-shine business in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The following is a quote from a respondent:
Covid has affected me paaaa. I don’t get to money as I use to get so; I owe my landlady rent for 2 months (42, not married, primary school).
Respondents indicated that they made several rounds a day before the covid-19 came. Rounds mentioned range from six to ten. Some make as many as six rounds while others make as many as ten rounds on a normal day:
Oh, like 10rounds because I move from one community to another (25, not married, Junior Secondary School).
From the data, respondents indicate that their rounds on a normal day has reduce as a result of Covid-19. The following is an excerpt from one of the respondents:
It has reduced and since you are a student you know what it entails. But my special customers call me when there is work to be done (35, married, primary school).
With income, the respondents mention that they make between 400 Ghana cedis to 1000 Ghana every month before they were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic:
I can get like 700-750cedis or even more depending on the number of work or rounds I go on daily basis (28, married, Secondary School).
From the data, respondents indicated that their monthly has been affected by the pandemic. They make between 350 cedis to 750 cedis a month.
Challenges and coping strategies in the Shoe-shine business
Respondents mention getting tired as challenges they faced before the covid-19 him them. This is due to how physically demanding the work is as they have to walk long distances. This finding is consistent with finding made by Tanle (2018b) who revealed that shoe-shine boys within the cape coast metropolis experience physical stress as a result of the nature of their work. The following is a quote from one of the respondents:
The challenge I can talk of is just that I come home very tired and even sometimes it’s very difficult to sit with my family (35, married, primary school)
Ability to work, customer base and income have been mention as being areas of their work that has been affected by Covid-19. The following is a quote from a respondent:
It is very bad to the extent that some days I don’t go to work (25, not married, Junior High School).
Respondents indicated that they rest, work late in the day or depend on family support to overcome the challenge of physical tiredness they faced before the covid-19 pandemic came. Family support they receive is explained by the determinant of migrant vulnerability which postulates that families are important in determining vulnerabilities, as they are generally the first option for people in need of support, especially children and youth (IOM, 2004). The following is an excerpt by one of the respondents:
Though, it was difficult dealing with it but I spoke to them [family] and explain certain things to them until I was able settle them (28, cohabitating, Secondary School).
From the data, respondents have mentioned that they are managing the situation created by the covid-19 with respect to their work:
We are managing with the small income we get at the end of every work and God is protecting and blessing us (35, not married, Junior School).
Benefit from shoe-shine business
Having a job, being able to take care of family and earning income were the benefits from the shoeshine business. The respondents revealed that through the shoe-shine work they can be able to get money to support their family. This finding is consistent with findings made by Teye (2019) who reveals that people migrate to get better jobs and employment opportunities. The following is a quote from one of the respondents:
There are so many benefits from this job. I can pay my kids fees; I have a store for my wife and at the same time she is a seamstress and I am very happy (35, married, Primary School).