Environmental Implications Of Oil And Gas Activities On Livelihoods Of Citizens In Akyinkyin In The Western Region Of Ghana

ABSTRACT

The development of Ghana requires adequate revenue generation from the oil and

gas sector. In the country’s quest to generate revenue for its development, a

number of damages are caused to both the livelihoods of people in the oil

producing areas and the environment. The research examined the environmental

implications of oil and gas activities on the livelihoods of citizens in Akyinkyin in

the western region of Ghana. Both the probability and non-probability methods of

research were used. The study also employed the simple random sampling and

purposive sampling methods in selecting respondents for the study. Questionnaire

and focus group discussion guide was the main data collection instrument and a

sample size of 350 respondents was used along with one focus group discussion.

Frequencies, tables, percentages and thematic approaches were also used to

present the data. The research found that the exploration of oil and gas activities

led to high teenage pregnancies, reduced fishing and farming activities and loss of

farmlands. It was also found that plant species and traditional herbs used for

medicines have been lost and there have been oil spills into water bodies. It is

therefore recommended that there should be an intensification of oil and gas

monitoring activities in order to reduce oil spills and other environmental dangers.

Read Download