Abstract
The article draws on ethnographic observations of second-hand car and spare-parts traders in Ghana to analyse how these goods are traded over continents and how the value of a car is shaped by grounded practices and categories that I describe. The position of Ghana in this global valuechain relies on regulations forged by the alliance between politicians, traders and mechanics of the informal sector, now challenged by manufacturers who promise to contribute to the country’s industrialisation; and the availability of skilled and cheap labour. This renders viable operations impossible elsewhere. I hypothesise that as these wastes are revalued in West Africa, they sustain the production cycle and automotive industry in rich countries.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have