Abstract:
New Teberebie and New Atuabo communities have been hit badly by
Relocation. New Teberebie and New Atuabo are resettled communities of Old
Teberebie and Old Atuabo and its surrounding communities by Teberbie
Goldfields Limited in 1990/91 and Goldfields Limited in 1997 respectively.
The general objective of the study was to look at the socio-economic
implications of Large Scale Gold Mining on affected relocated communities in
Wassa West. Issues investigated were the impact of relocation on livelihoods
and alternative livelihoods and the perceptions of community members of the
effect of relocation on their personal well-being among others. With respect to
methodology, research design for the study was the social survey method and
qualitative in nature. Structured interview was the main instrument used for the
data collection through Focus Group Discussion from the members of the two
communities.
Some of the findings were that relocation has led to some level of joblessness in
the two communities, loss of livelihoods and the provision of alternative
livelihood of which majority of the affected respondent not earning a living from
the new livelihoods given. The perceptions in terms of socio-economic
implications of relocation on the future of the communities were that it will lead
to increases in crimes, conflicts, poverty, health problems and decrease in land
for agriculture among others. From landlessness to land-based relocation, from
joblessness to reemployment provision of good compensation, payment of
monthly allowances to these who were having farmlands for loss of livelihoods
and terminating mining rights of mining companies who flout the Minerals and
Mining Law, 2006 among others were the recommendations made
