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The livelihood challenges of resettled communities of the Bui dam project in Ghana and the role of Chinese dam†builders

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  • Paul W. K. Yankson
  • Alex B. Asiedu
  • Kwadwo Owusu
  • Frauke Urban
  • Giuseppina Siciliano
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 dam†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.

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  • Paul W. K. Yankson & Alex B. Asiedu & Kwadwo Owusu & Frauke Urban & Giuseppina Siciliano, 2018. "The livelihood challenges of resettled communities of the Bui dam project in Ghana and the role of Chinese dam†builders," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(S1), pages 476-494, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:36:y:2018:i:s1:p:o476-o494
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12259
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frauke Urban & Johan Nordensvärd & Deepika Khatri & Yu Wang, 2013. "An analysis of China’s investment in the hydropower sector in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 301-324, April.
    2. Peter Bilson Obour & Kwadwo Owusu & Edmond Akwasi Agyeman & Albert Ahenkan & Àngel Navarro Madrid, 2016. "The impacts of dams on local livelihoods: a study of the Bui Hydroelectric Project in Ghana," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 286-300, March.
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    4. Oliver Hensengerth, 2013. "Chinese hydropower companies and environmental norms in countries of the global South: the involvement of Sinohydro in Ghana’s Bui Dam," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 285-300, April.
    5. May Tan-Mullins & Giles Mohan, 2013. "The potential of corporate environmental responsibility of Chinese state-owned enterprises in Africa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 265-284, April.
    6. Giles Mohan & Marcus Power, 2008. "New African Choices? The Politics of Chinese Engagement," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(115), pages 23-42, March.
    7. Hensengerth, Oliver, 2011. "Interaction of Chinese institutions with host governments in dam construction: the Bui dam in Ghana," IDOS Discussion Papers 3/2011, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    8. Giles Mohan, 2008. "China in Africa: A Review Essay," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(115), pages 155-173, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Caroline Aboda & Pål Olav Vedeld & Patrick Byakagaba & Haakon Lein & Charlotte Anne Nakakaawa, 2023. "Household capacity to adapt to resettlement due to land acquisition for the oil refinery development project in Uganda," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 13125-13147, November.
    2. Andrea Schapper & Frauke Urban, 2021. "Large dams, norms and Indigenous Peoples," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(S1), pages 61-80, August.
    3. Tang, Keyi & Shen, Yingjiao, 2020. "Do China-financed dams in Sub-Saharan Africa improve the region's social welfare? A case study of the impacts of Ghana's Bui Dam," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    4. Eric Mensah Mortey & Kouakou Lazare Kouassi & Arona Diedhiou & Sandrine Anquetin & Mathieu Genoud & Benoit Hingray & Didier Guy Marcel Kouame, 2019. "Sustainable Hydroelectric Dam Management in the Context of Climate Change: Case of the Taabo Dam in Côte D’Ivoire, West Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-32, September.
    5. Daniel Assamah & Shaoyu Yuan, 2024. "Greenfield investment and job creation in Ghana: a sectorial analysis and geopolitical implications of Chinese investments," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Beatrice Asenso Barnieh & Li Jia & Massimo Menenti & Jie Zhou & Yelong Zeng, 2020. "Mapping Land Use Land Cover Transitions at Different Spatiotemporal Scales in West Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-52, October.
    7. Cong Li & Lei Wang & Marcus W. Feldman & Shuzhuo Li, 2021. "Poverty and income inequality effects of the relocation program in Shaanxi, China," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 35(2), pages 41-59, November.
    8. Jiaxin Wu & Jigang Zhang & Hongjuan Yang, 2023. "Sustainable Development of Farmers in Minority Areas after Poverty Alleviation Relocation: Based on an Improved Sustainable Livelihood Analysis Framework," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, May.
    9. Łukasz Wiejaczka & Danuta Piróg & Joanna Fidelus-Orzechowska, 2020. "Cost-Benefit Analysis of Dam Projects: The Perspectives of Resettled and Non-resettled Communities," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(1), pages 343-357, January.

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