Local Navigations in a Global Industry: The Gendered Nature of Entrepreneurship in Ghana’s Oil and Gas Service Sector

Abstract

Oil and gas discoveries spurred expectations of economic growth and employment in Ghana. The demand for labour is however limited within offshore petroleum extraction. Employment generation therefore depends on the development of an onshore oil and gas service sector. This study examines the strategies adopted by local entrepreneurs in the ‘oil city’ of Takoradi, focusing on the gendered nature of their activities, skills, networks and capital sources. I argue that the petroleum industry’s male dominance and international standards requirements, coupled with gender constraints regarding work and access to relevant resources, limit female entrepreneurs’ creation of employment in this emerging sector.

Acknowledgements

I thank the informants who shared their experiences and Thomas Antwi Bosiakoh and Mary Kyei for excellent research assistance. Thanks to Samuel Agyei-Mensah and Akosua Darkwah for all kinds of assistance in Ghana and invigorating discussions. The Research Council of Norway funded the research through the project ‘Localising globalisation’. Many thanks for all the input from project leader Leif Manger and the other project members, and not the least Anette Fagertun for editing this special section. For constructive and inspiring comments I thank Gracia Clark, Stephanie Barrientos, Abena Oduro, Oscar Ugarteche, Brenda Chalfin, Halldis Valestrand, Austin Ablo and the two anonymous referees. The data upon which this article is based can be provided on request to the author.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).