The Livelihood Challenges of Resettled Communities of the Bui Dam Project in Ghana and the Role of Chinese Dam-builders

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Date

2017

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley

Abstract

Emerging issues from the Bui hydropower project suggest that the experiences of two earlier hydropower projects in Ghana failed to prevent challenges related to resource access and livelihoods. This article examines the nature of the challenges, their causes, why they were not avoided and the role of the Chinese builders. We conducted 43 interviews and 11 focus group discussions and analyzed qualitative data by themes using narrative analysis. Our findings show that the livelihoods of the resettled communities are, on balance, negatively impacted by the construction of the dam. While Chinese damā€builders played a major role in financing and enabling the dam's construction, the Ghanaian governance arrangements were found to be more important in addressing the livelihood challenges.

Description

Journal Article

Keywords

Bui, China, Ghana, large dams, resettlement

Citation

Yankson PWK, Asiedu AB, Owusu K, Urban F, Siciliano G. The livelihood challenges of resettled communities of the Bui dam project in Ghana and the role of Chinese dam- builders. Dev Policy Rev. 2018;36:O476ā€“O494.https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12259