The Dynamics of Urban Poverty in Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metropolitan Area: Youth Unemployment and Coping Strategies

ABSTRACT This study examines three main issues concerning the youth in the Asbiedu Keteke Sub~ metropolitan Area. These include their poverty profiles, unemployment problems and coping strategies. Central to the increase in urban poverty is the rise in unemployment especially among the youth. This provides the point of departure for this dissertation. The first section shows how Asbiedu and its environs, ahhougb constituting the commercial heartland of Accra, have not reached its potential in economic development. The Submetro houses all the important commercial facilities like markets, restaurants and lorry parks in Accra, as weD as all the major financial institutions. But it is the most deprived Su~metro in the Greater Accra Region. It also accommodates almost an the poor communities in Accra like Old Fadama (Sodom and Gomorrah), Salaha, and Jamestown among others. Being the commercial center of the Metropolis, it has become densely populated and also attracts migrants from all parts of the country. The commercial activities in the area, 'low cost areas' (slums) as wen as fishing activities have made the place a haven for the youth who did not go to school or have dropped out of school and do not have regular employment. The study identifies rural-urban migration as one of the main causes of urban unemployment especially among the youth. Low level of education as a result of high drop out rate was also seen as one of the major problems that lead to poverty and unen:!ployment in the Sub-metro.