Indigenous knowledge for innovation and sustainable livelihood in Ghana’s informal economy

This study examines the systematic use of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to foster innovation and sustainable development in Ghana’s informal sector. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 300 informal-sector participants in Ghana, supplemented by 30 qualitative interviews with principal knowledge custodians and stakeholders. Quantitative results show a strong reliance on IK (90.38%). IK was shown to have a significant effect on innovation outcomes: 84.63% said it helped them develop new or better products and services, and 84.13% said it helped them develop creative solutions to problems. Apprenticeship and the utilization of libraries, archives, and museums have been identified as the most effective strategies for preserving IK (mean = 84.13%), succeeded by storytelling and knowledge recognition mechanisms (mean = 82.25%). Socioeconomic analysis indicated that IK significantly enhances food security, health, and community well-being (mean = 84.75%) and promotes environmental sustainability through resource conservation and waste reduction (means = 77.57% and 76.13%, respectively). The most important problems were a lack of government and institutional support (mean = 86.00%) and a lack of integration with modern technologies (mean = 62.13%). The study provides substantial empirical evidence that IK is a crucial yet insufficiently supported catalyst for grassroots innovation and sustainable livelihoods, underscoring the need for intentional policy integration into Ghana’s national innovation and development frameworks.