The Emerging Oil Industry in Ghana: Socioeconomic Impact on the People of the Fishing Communities in Western Region (Published)
The oil find is believed to help Ghana with its institutional help on the life of its citizenry. It is in this view, that the study focused on the impact of the oil extraction and production on the livelihood of the people within the fishing communities of Western Region since there is a ban on fishing in the catchment area of the oil production. The study was therefore to identify the socioeconomic impact of the oil production on the livelihood of the people of the oil communities and how those effects could be minimized, to help improve the standard of living of these people in the oil communities. The results are the indications that the government through the districts assemblies and the oil companies are committed to better the lives of the people in the oil communities. The results also showed that the people had to sell their livelihood assets in order to make a living. It also revealed that most of the fishermen were in the age bracket between 18 to 40 years. It was again found that the income level of the fishermen fell as a result of the introduction of the ban. As a promise not to worse-off the life of the people the needed attention should be paid to them. The study recommended that education should be made accessible and affordable for the children in the oil communities in order not to follow the steps of the preceding generation. The fishing assets should be made more accessible and cheaper to fishermen. In a nut shell the oil companies together with the government are to ensure that the promises made to these oil communities are fulfilled for the country to continue enjoying her peace.
Keywords: Communities, Fishermen, Fishing, Socioeconomic, and Livelihood