An assessment of socio-economic and environmentalimpacts of oil and gas operations: a case study of the host communities under Western and Central coastlines of Ghana

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Date
May 2016
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Abstract
The goal of this work is to assess perceived income decline of fishermen and farmers as results of oil and gas operations over the five years period (2010-2015) in coastal host communities under Western and Central coast of Western Region, Ghana. It is also, the objective of the study to examine apparent environmental problems (oil spills, gas flaring and other effluents) of oil and gas operations on host communities. This research followed contemporary research procedures, thus primary source was applied to obtain data for the targeted aims. Recall data approach was used for data collection process. An interactive Dummy Variable technique was employed to estimate the elasticity of oil and gas operations on fishermen and farmers income for both current and future terms. The Model total effect revealed that a percentage (1%) increase in oil and gas operations, all else equal, the fishermen average monthly income will decline by 1.86%.However, Interactive dummy variable technique actual shows that farmers do not experience any decline in income levels caused by petroleum activities on host communities. Some finding were that, majority of folks whose properties affected by oil and gas operations were not compensated for and those who received compensations were not comparatively compensated for and hence they bemoaned the payments. There is destruction of main traditional economic venture: fishermen are almost out of business and some farm lands, sacred vegetation are cleared. There is also high cost of living in some host communities: increased cost of goods and services and decreased income level of fishermen. Finally, there is an improved level of health, water and educational infrastructures in some host communities. The questionnaire method establishes that, oil spills, gas flaring and effluent have not engulfed host communities at the time of this research.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Economics in partial fulfillment of Master of Science Economics (Energy and Natural Resource Option),
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