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Irene Odotei UniveIsity of Ghana 89 The Migration of Ghanaian Women in the Canoe Fishing Industry of the integral features of the fishing industq in Ghana is migration. In keeping the movement of especially the sardinella from July to October, ped a tendency to follow the fish to the locality which is at any particular time. Such movements last only for a returning the end the season. Other types Of .on continue overs number of seasons and lead to a Semi-permanent Or permvent of residence with the of partid or totd integration into the host society. gration is either internal within Ghana external, taking the to other West ~fiican countries such as Liberia, Gambia, Benin, Nigeria, chneroonand de of organisation of the fishing industry and its resultant dependence Introduction wives and kinswomen for the their business Poses a the individual fisherman whenever he decides to move from his Own faced with two options. Either he goes accompanied by his wife as In Ghana, fishing is One Of the major occupations in which roles are clear-cut or associate or he finds someone else to play the of, at least, the Specific. Men go to sea and women stay on land to process and market the catch economic for the trip will be defeated. The 'ocd and distant markets. means that without the comp]imentaryrole of the worn the fisherman depends on his find destination, the type of the efforts of the men will come to nothing. Since fish are a highly peeshable cornmod proposed length of stay. For example, Ewe fishermen who they need to be immediately after they are landed, hi^ explains the need on the labour to operate one beach seine '""Other group ofpeople who have not spent hours sea to handle the fish. In Ghana by women. They usudly acquire a tract of land at the has been played by women for centuries and conhues to be played by them, ty, build temporary structures, and live by themselveswith "Ie of in this economic venture is therefore fdy in the traditions the people. It is impossible to imagine the fishing industry in ~h~~ without ing their catch (ihid.). anal migrations, fishermen tend to rely on a local woman who acts As in Other sectors of the economy, the fishing industry has had its share of as hostess, business associate, guarantor, and mother. She is the one who looks for innovations which have led to repercussions in the haditiod ofproduction accommodation for the when they first arrive, introduces thern to the "Ief and distribution. men manufactured their own gear and used energy fisheman and sees to the their 'beach drink' or fees. She advances them their craft. As they started depending imported inputs they to rely or guarantees such advances the purchase of fuel 01 repairs to On savings accumulated over a period of time supplemented by advances from equipment, she is referred to as fishmother, loonye in Ga. In return the fishermen sell to start fishing ventures. With the introduction of mechanisation leading to the need their catch lo this local fishmother who renders account to them at theend of thefishmg for o'ltboard motors, canoes and nets, the initid capita[ investment went or periodicdly as agreed the season to Years, the fishermen 'Ie the saving of the fishermen. This was aggravated by high maintenance and fuel joined by their wives. ~h~~ participate the fish handling as Processor and distributor Apart from initial help given to fishermen by way of to encourage them to without ousting the local fishmother. The wives redise that being foreigners, like their use theoutboardmotor, the financialinstitutions have notkept pace with thefishennen,s husbands, need local support which is represented by the fishmother. ' ' need for cash to run their business. The fishermen have therefore had to rely on their This role played by the fishmother in seasonal internal and external migration can business partners and associates, one group which has a vested in their venture -the women fish handlers and also he found in extended migration where migration takes ?lace to an area where local play an active role the handling of fish. In some cases the Through this, have crossed the role demarcation line and are now actively invite the fishermen, advance them money for the purchase or repair of fish!ng involved in fish Production as financiers and sometimes as owners of the means of gear and work in partnership with them the debt Examples of such a situat'on production. Actually women's involvement in production predates mechanisation, In the area, the seat of beach seine fishing in Ghana, the purchase ofthe first beach can he found in Togo and Benin. From the above, it is clear that the migrant Ghanaian fisherman is sometimes caught seine Yevudor net), is credited to a woe named Afedima, a between loyaw to his wife's business interests which are inmcatel~ i&nvoven with of a prominent locd man ~natsi (~~k~~~~ 1989). The fact that the his own economic success androleashusband, and his ownbusiness security beach 'line was introduced to the Anlo coast between 1850 and ,860 shows the extent in access to local credit and support represented by the local hostess or fish*ther, The anddimensionofthe~~ici~ationof theGhanaian in the fishingindushy(ibid,), lot of the miffrant ~h~~~i~ woman, fish dealer or processor, is by no means simp1e or straightforward. She is in a web competition, ly co-operative with varying degrees of formal and informal sometimes, from local women. Does stay at home to av found among Fante. these problems does she migrate? hen the women move their migrant husbands labour provided They make for this loss by keeping their daughters with female relations to join them. the migrant fishing the community young to be part of the labour years or earlier, processing, hawking The major motive for migration among the female migrants interviewed in lings. This has adversely affected and the Republic success of the move leads also their husbands in the home migration in which daughters, younger sisters, nieces and relatives of their knowing more than should about and other to help in processing, the fish and commercial activitie d techniques of avoiding the scrutiny of their husbands. It lahour divorced and, occasionally, married do not have this problem of live with their male relatives. ds since they are used to the same residential pattern in their home-towns. Purely economic considerations are also be the motivation of all of the fishing company travel with their wives. Wives of canoe women. Like their male counterparts, these to accumulate with their husbands. Other either make particular venture, such as building or completing and to ouraged company to migrate with their consumption items like household utensils, toilebies, perfumes, man havels with his fust wife or the wives take turns to pushed out economic home aggravated mamiage pro or the death of female migrants are operating indepe kg the conjugal role so intricately bound outside male control were I11 in Abidjan. le that it is quite difficult to distinguish between the two. As The above classification is not meant to suggest wives are devoid e varying roles employees, business partners and associates economic position of women in traditional inhe dependent operators. Each role by the type of fishing engaged in of Property and their virtual exclusion from joint ownership of property wi it men, and in the operation and the season. h~shands make it imperative for them and seek their economic securi as they help their husbands. They are expected families and at home to acquire Something for themselves of other mem the familv or lineage. in- Partners and Associates - The intel'Pla~ of dependence and independence with varying empha . some Fante towns women may be their In this instance, Women's roles as wives and associates, women either sell the fish in its fresh or processed state and then render accounts to employees and fascinating spectacle. men in return for a proceeds. This Common. A was found fishermen at Placond~l and akpa Dodome. soon as his catch, he hands over the fish from As wives and mothers, the women's fustresponsibility is to their families. 1tis &presence the husband. renders accounts to the hushand when he as wives of the fishermen that have left home. For most of them, the home hut she continues to keep her husband's money. She goes with him to the residential Pattern enough to emphasize this role. This varies et to pay inputs needed to repair damage the nets. In this way the woman ethnic origin women. For the and Fante, marriage in their home-tow as sales manager, purchasing officer, accountant, banker, and wife. When ques- duo-local magan 1983). lives with her female and male ch. ed about the men Akpakpa Dodome explained that they under ten Years of age own male her cooking and comm ours leaving their unlocked palm-frond the mercy of storms and activities take place sends her meals and goes to slee s. 1t is therefore safer for them the women keep the money, knowing how to him in he also shares with his male kin. it in the face of crisis. The younger men are against this mode of operation but This residential arrangement gives the wife some freedom to organise herd nable to change the tradition. also claim that they are protecting the commercial activities. Amonr! not unusual 's interests by their money by them on ~ ~ daughters to in bulk, dishing out the for her daughter's fr cennal In this situation, one can do whilst the others such financial control in the hands processing of fish or any other commercial pattern pro ity. This is more so since Tenga, type of fishing done by their husbands, involves small quantities of fish. Unfortunately them, they not allowed by th local women to sell othe women are thereforeeasily th To avoid total dependence on their husbands' money and to be lay money they can call their own, the women have develop marketing technique aimed As soon the wife of a fisherman unloads husband's catch, the other wome rush in for themselves. After bargaining, they this fish in turn sell to transaction. If the Benin offers less than price agreed between the migrant women, the the original s This is toensure the sale. doing, the wome legitimize the personal profit catch. To avoid possibl trouble they they buy their husbands. was observed that the more common role in this This is a continuation of the the women hom This was Fante women of Vridi III and Grand Bassam in Cij d'lvoire, and the Ewe women of Port Cotonou. In this instance, the wome mainly wives and relatives, buy the fishermen and it fresh the women is their fisherme their wives money but trade with. also give them what is 'eating fish,' in Ga, return from trips. accrued from a woman's is supposed needs of husband and children (Hagan situation, wives receive regular their husbands inadequate for the needs of the family. women therefore suppleme money given their hushands their business. Wh the fishing husiness through hard times, the men depend entirely their wi whenever possible, they other commercial suc food processing and the sale cooked food, provisions and alcohol. catches are is essential fisherman must enough maintain his gear to continue fishing and maintain the possible; and the wife must make enough to maintain the family and, occasionally, of credit for the husband. Above all, both categories �tiiut niikc L.II.)L,~~ 10 tke Iionie t(1111:tke thrf \VII~IIC nligr~u,,n venture \\dnh\vhilt. Thi~ i, io i.c. O~~CIVCJ in ihe J~~uit)uii,~li .~iti\h and the h.ucril~iin~. In the Ji\tribution oiti,h - - the women, the maxim, as stated the leader of the Bouet,is, 'Everybody musteat.'Even after the bargain beenstruck, . ~ lithe \\ ornet1 tiillhe .I Ioi, ,)II the ale rlt the m:uhet they dlwxy, sume hd:k r~i ple~d n iih ilie ii*hertrlel~ i.)r a redu-ii~~i in price In the bdrgainlnp lor the tish u it11 the tiihernien, t11e w,)inen usu.dI\ Io,~ 1111 10 ilie uciie iiitlie bust wvner ;tr x1i~tur,11 IcJer. S~L. ueri,)rti~s a balancing between [he interests of the women (including herself) and those where local women join migrant women in fish from the migrant women get rebates privately in homes after the transaction, when they ask for them and the fishermen think their is reasonable. given to women enable much fish from the men when is good no women of the Ewe town Kedzi network with the fishermen in the and Togo. go round purchasing fish from the different companies. They smoked to Keta, which then a very important market centre, for sale. them to They also purchasing agents for the fishermen, repairing their nets return to export Bassam for sale ;,I the 1,dnie 111drket ~~i .Matikes\itn in C;I~'ttla. In ttie relari.~n,h~p be~wezn the niirr,cni ilrherlmn 2nd tlieir wonie~i-l'~,lk, the word is adaptation. women are theregre playing yet role in the fishing husiness. employees, shareholders and agents. This multiple role was observed among migrant women. displaced in the fishing husiness. Lome Cotonou, the local women use their financial power over their husbands' husiness squeeze them local women fish-mothers for the migrant Ga-Adangbe fishermen. came as a result by these local fish-mothers who them loans to purchase part of their gear. fishermen repay the loan in kind by over a part of their catch to the fish-mothers. strangers and debtors, the mercy of these not entitled provide their wives with asmall income, the fishermenemploy themas porters to cany the fish canoes to the point of sale the beach. is made with the discretion of the fishermen. This gives generous to their wives when possible. Abidjan, the migrant women local fish-mothers, hut by of operation and local taste. auction held men and is purchased mainly by market for retailers of fresh fish. Women sell fresh fish usually buy it from the men after they the auction. Only those who have access market are women who easily claim to be Ivorians because the national border which through their territory Ghanaians and some Ivorians. women, the by bream and grouper, preferred Ivorians and the large cannot even smoke of fishing, distance hand-lining, by their men other opportunities. are away stretch and when they home they stay for only two or three days. They. and wash their clothes Two to four women, usually the wife of bosun and the wives of two three hard-working men of the crew incorporated into the or employees. At the end of the accounting season, they given a of the profits, hut they not receive the men. women are grouped together equivalent of a single man's share or This, however, not their only also act This is private business given loans the food hip paid when the fishermen return hip. They turns giving extra money when paying the bills, requirements have been the women canoes with these activities, the women use the time they have when their husbands are away for business, mainly cooked foods. It is not surprising that these women appear indulge in conspicuous spending having completed being in the process in their Independent or Free-Lance of independent operators was observed nI. whose presence in Abidjan depend on marriage blood relation with mainly between the ages 20-30, unmarried, separated work in three six consisting They have ovens, adequate capital nor supply they hire ovens from male Mosbie who have left the business to sell buy fish from Fante take the whole from hand-line fishermen, fish which has become too fermented occasionally buy fish the harbour, expenses involved are too much meagre capital, rendering getfish they hue their services to theFantefish service of migrant fishing business or other forms suppon Support Services of migrant Ghanaian women work in the market fish dressers. Having observed Ivoirian not like dressing fish, they offer their services in dressing their fish purchases a fee. Migrant hawkers, dressmakers and hair-dressers the fishing community, other migrants and Ivorians. traders also act taking hack the host countries provisions personal effects the migrants. help them in the transfer of fishermen's money buy doing, the traders have a and the fishermen that they not have to wony much when they leave their host country under both traders and the migrant Apart the migrant fishermen, female spirit mediums and syncretic prophetesses their services. They sell herbs other concoctions and perform rituals meant to give to their are invariably linked with the across all the various from any group. What is needed is and the capital moved from the other. women in thecoastal communities have aphilosophy that a woman should not to one occupation. able possible. Migrant women who are not originally use their profits other ventures investment in fishing. Migrant women were (watsa, sieve), hand-lines and ali and gear. boat owners normally have male relative the actual operations. Both internal and external migration affect the fishing business andcollectively. Thecongregation the women fom benevolent societies and local savings help them on occasions of illness, Mh. the women without the security suppoa of the extended family. vacuum created by family and woman in Abidjan remarked: 'They have here and families are not here have to be our fathers and mothers.' other hand, marriages away from home are and the women involved References Cited Hagan, G.P. 1983 Maniage, Divorce and Polygyny Oppong (Ed.), Female ond Male in West Africa. London Geoige Allen and Unwin. Nukunya, G.K. 1989 The Anlo-Ewe arid Full-Tlme Maritime Fishing: Another View. Maritime Anlhropologicnl Studies 2(2): 154-73.