IMPACT OF MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES ON THE ENVIRONMENT -A CASE STUDY IN TWIFU ATTI MORKWA MUNICIPALITY IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA

ABSTRACT The main purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of mechanical industries on the environment in Twifu Atti-Morkwa Municipality in the Central Region. This study employed case study research design. The researcher used quantitative research approach. The population for this study was the workers of the Twifo oil plantation in the Twifo Atti-Morkwa Municipality. The entire population for this study was 123. Random sampling method was used to select 92 respondents for the study. Questionnaires were the main instrument used to gather primary data. The data collected was analysed statistically using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 18. The study results concluded that 75.6% of the respondents agreed that the water bodies are destroyed as a results of the activities of the mechanical industries. Moreover, 76.7% agreed that the air is sometimes polluted as a results of the activities of the mechanical industries. Also, 84.9% agreed that the activities of the mechanical industries produce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, in their manufacturing process. Moreover, 79.1% agreed that the activities of the mechanical industries creates environmental degradation arising from industrialism. Furthermore, 67.4% said that the kind of improvements that has been done to manage waste water is control system, 15 respondents representing 17.4% said that the kind of improvements that has been done to manage waste water is automatic while 13 respondents representing 15.1% said that the kind of improvements that has been done to manage waste water is manual. Moreover, 29.1% said that lack of environmental technologies (clean technologies applications) affects the improvement of the environmental performance of the factory. The study recommended that the environmental protection agencies and NGOs should continue to monitor the activities of the mechanical industries in order to comply with the environmental protection rules and regulations and ensure the safety of the environment.