This study investigates and compares the entrepreneurial activities of native and transnational migrant artisan entrepreneurs in Ghana, aiming to determine if migrant artisans displace job opportunities for their Ghanaian counterparts.
Using a qualitative approach and drawing on phenomenology, the study explores the experiences of both groups through face-to-face interviews with 20 native and 12 migrant artisan entrepreneurs.
The findings reveal that transnational migrant artisans exhibit remarkable attributes such as grit, entrepreneurial alertness, innovation, customer centricity and effective networking. In contrast, their native counterparts tend to display a less customer-centric focus and a less aggressive entrepreneurial approach.
The study enriches our understanding of entrepreneurial dynamics within this sub-sector and serves as a foundation for future research on informal entrepreneurship, migration and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners (Artisans) and researchers aiming to foster inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in Ghana.
The study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by offering a comparative analysis of native and migrant artisan entrepreneurship, addressing job displacement concerns and providing insights into the dynamics of the Ghanaian artisan sub-sector.
