Assessing The Impact Of Formalisation On The Livelihoods Of Informal Workers In The Waste Management Sector In Accra: A Case Of Borla Taxi And Tricycle Association (BTTA)

Abstract

This study examines the economic and social outcomes of formalising informal waste workers in Accra, Ghana, through the case of the Borla Taxi and Tricycle Association (BTTA). Informal waste collectors play a critical role in urban waste management but typically operate without security and are vulnerable to exploitation and exclusion from policy frameworks. This research is situated within the theoretical framework of The Informal Economy Theory. The concept was first introduced by Keith Hart (1973) in his anthropological study of urban Ghana, where he used the term informal sector to describe income-generating activities not regulated by formal institutions. The study employed the use of convergent parallel mixed methods design to combine in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with structured questionnaires to capture both lived experiences and measurable changes in income stability, working conditions, and access to social services among BTTA members and non-affiliated tricycle waste collectors, as well as perspectives from key institutional stakeholders. Findings show that BTTA members understood formalisation primarily as collective organisation, mutual support, and voice, rather than a regulatory process, while non-members perceived it as distant, enforcement-driven, and restrictive. Quantitative results indicated modest economic benefits for BTTA members, including more consistent access to licences and relatively higher income stability; however, both members and non-members continued to face significant gaps in social protection, job security, and pension coverage. The study concludes that formalisation, while it presents a great sense of recognition and collective identity, it has not yet delivered its promise of comprehensive livelihood security. The study, however, proposes that effective formalisation in the waste management sector requires a shift from enforcement-focused approaches to inclusive, worker-centered models are grounded in trusted associations, transparent communication, and tangible livelihood benefits.