Sand mining and land-based livelihood security in two selected districts in the Central Region of Ghana
Management of Environmental Quality
ISSN: 1477-7835
Article publication date: 8 June 2022
Issue publication date: 17 January 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Globally, rapid urbanisation characterised by increasing demand for housing and infrastructure needs has resulted in sand mining. In Ghana, sand mining can create or destroy the livelihoods of people in urban and rural areas. This paper examines the interaction between sand mining and land-based livelihood security in Awutu Senya District (ASD) and Awutu Senya East Municipality (ASEM).
Design/methodology/approach
Based on pragmatism philosophy, the study used a mixed methods approach to collect quantitative data and qualitative data from 431 household heads, ten core staff of the Assemblies, five traditional leaders, two tipper truck drivers' associations and ten farmer groups. Statistical Product and Service Solutions, version 21 and NVivo 12 facilitated quantitative data analysis and qualitative data analysis, respectively.
Findings
The study revealed that sand mining had different consequences on land-based livelihood security. Some block makers and truck drivers acknowledged positive effects of sand mining on their livelihoods while the majority of the household respondents and other key informants claimed that sand mining had negative effects on their livelihoods.
Research limitations/implications
This paper focuses on two selected local government areas in Ghana. Therefore, the results may be generalised on the country with caution because local government areas have different characteristics. Further research is needed to contact the customers of sand in Accra.
Originality/value
This study provides new insight into the connections between sand mining and people's livelihood security in two local government areas. It also introduces a novel idea of collaboration among stakeholders to address negative effects associated with unsustainable sand mining.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: The research was funded by the School for Development Studies and the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy, University of Cape Coast.
Citation
Anokye, N.A., Mensah, J.V., Potakey, H.M.D., Boateng, J.S., Essaw, D.W. and Tenkorang, E.Y. (2023), "Sand mining and land-based livelihood security in two selected districts in the Central Region of Ghana", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 34 No. 1, pp. 21-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-11-2021-0263
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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