Entrepreneur gatekeepers and adaptors of knowledge in emerging food processing clusters in Ghana

Development, prosperity and sustainable livelihoods in Africa requires knowledge and technology adapted to local contexts. This paper argues that entrepreneur gatekeepers within developing economy clusters can become potent conduits for adapting technology but research overlooks their role, particularly when they are operating as part of the informal economy. This study therefore addresses this knowledge gap through a qualitative empirical study of two food processing clusters in Ghana. Gatekeepers are identified as those entrepreneurs who bring tacit and codified knowledge to be shared throughout a cluster, and also adapt technology to local contexts. The informal nature of the African economy shapes these processes with knowledge shared through personal trust based relationships, the movement of labour between businesses and work of artisan engineers who adapt technology. Innovation support in an African context therefore needs to work with these entrepreneur gatekeepers as well as larger companies and public institutions.