Markets and women's trade: exploring their role in district development in Ghana

This article discusses the economic importance of periodic and daily markets as well as role played by women in these markets. The article is grounded in empirical evidence from markets in two district capitals in the Central region of Ghana. In both districts, with little industry and a weak tax base, levies on markets serve as a major source of internally generated revenue to local government, namely District Assemblies. At the same time, these markets promote rural-urban interactions. However, they are underdeveloped and have to be prioritised to provide an alternative means to district development.