In the West African economies the incorporation into the world market has resulted in a variety of social production forms. Apart from the marginally remaining pre-capitalist forms, formal production on the pattern of the advanced industrialised economies is found side-by-side with a substantial of informally organised activities. The latter are specialised activities which retain pre-capitalist forms of social organisation and modes of interaction while they are in various ways integrated in the market for rawmaterials, output, labour and skills.
This study of the structure of production forms found in the manufacturing industry in Ghana in the 1960's and of the resulting implications for the structure of the Ghanaian national economy as a whole. Focus is on 'development' implications connected with the spatial organisation of the sector and the spatial element that is found in the division of labour between formal and informal industry.
It is thus a contribution to the probe into the forms for 'articulation of modes of production' connected with capitalist penetration in Africa after Independence. It adds to the understanding of the conditions for counteracting structural imbalance and inequality particularly.
Contents: 1. Introduction -- 2. Ghana: Economy, spatial form and national development: Patterns and problems -- 3. Ghana: Spatial and industrial structure: Some detailed accounts and operational definitions -- 4. Industry in Eastern Region and Accra Capital District: Two regional surveys -- 5. The spatial impact of manufacturing industry: The interrelated patterns of formal and informal industry -- 6. Policy on industry and regional development: The elements of a spatial policy -- 7. Conclusions