IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/devpol/v36y2018is1po476-o494.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12259
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/dpr.12259?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    3. Kaplinsky, Raphael & Messner, Dirk, 2008. "Introduction: The Impact of Asian Drivers on the Developing World," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 197-209, February.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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).
    7. 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.
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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).
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    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. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. Andrea Schapper & Frauke Urban, 2021. "Large dams, norms and Indigenous Peoples," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(S1), pages 61-80, August.
    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Frauke Urban & Johan Nordensvard & Giuseppina Siciliano & Bingqin Li, 2015. "Chinese Overseas Hydropower Dams and Social Sustainability: The Bui Dam in Ghana and the Kamchay Dam in Cambodia," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(3), pages 573-589, September.
    2. Frauke Urban & Giles Mohan & Sarah Cook, 2013. "China as a new shaper of international development: the environmental implications," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 257-263, April.
    3. Asongu, Simplice A, 2014. "Sino-African relations: a review and reconciliation of dominant schools of thought," MPRA Paper 66597, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Asongu, Simplice A, 2014. "A Development Consensus reconciling the Beijing Model and Washington Consensus: Views and Agenda," MPRA Paper 58757, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Simplice A. Asongu & Paul N. Acha-Anyi, 2020. "A survey on the Washington Consensus and the Beijing Model: reconciling development perspectives," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 67(2), pages 111-129, June.
    6. Kwadwo Owusu & Paul W. K. Yankson & Alex B. Asiedu & Peter B. Obour, 2017. "Resource utilization conflict in downstream non‐resettled communities of the Bui Dam in Ghana," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(4), pages 234-243, November.
    7. Adjei, E.A. & Amoabeng, K.O. & Ayetor, G.K.K. & Obeng, G.Y. & Quansah, D.A. & Adusei, J.S., 2022. "Assessing the impact of hydro energy project on poverty alleviation: The case of Bui Dam in Ghana," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    8. Simplice Asongu & John Ssozi, 2016. "Sino-African Relations: Some Solutions and Strategies to the Policy Syndromes," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 33-51, January.
    9. 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.
    10. Kirchherr, Julian & Matthews, Nathanial, 2018. "Technology transfer in the hydropower industry: An analysis of Chinese dam developers’ undertakings in Europe and Latin America," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 546-558.
    11. Fadzilah Majid Cooke & Johan Nordensvard & Gusni Bin Saat & Frauke Urban & Giuseppina Siciliano, 2017. "The Limits of Social Protection: The Case of Hydropower Dams and Indigenous Peoples' Land," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(3), pages 437-450, September.
    12. Giles Mohan, 2012. "China in Africa: Impacts and prospects for accountable development," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-012-12, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    13. Mirja Kattelus & Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman & Olli Varis, 2014. "Myanmar under reform: Emerging pressures on water, energy and food security," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 38(2), pages 85-98, May.
    14. Laurent Didier, 2017. "South-South Trade and Geographical Diversification of Intra-SSA Trade: Evidence from BRICs," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(2), pages 139-154, June.
    15. Samuel Brazys & Krishna Chaitanya Vadlamannati, 2021. "Aid curse with Chinese characteristics? Chinese development flows and economic reforms," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 188(3), pages 407-430, September.
    16. Broich, Tobias, 2017. "Do authoritarian regimes receive more Chinese development finance than democratic ones? Empirical evidence for Africa," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 180-207.
    17. Hensengerth, Oliver, 2018. "South-South technology transfer: Who benefits? A case study of the Chinese-built Bui dam in Ghana," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 499-507.
    18. Simplice Asongu, 2016. "Reinventing Foreign Aid For Inclusive And Sustainable Development: Kuznets, Piketty And The Great Policy Reversal," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 736-755, September.
    19. Damares Lopes Afonso & Fernando Salgueiro Perobelli & Suzana Quinet de Andrade Bastos, 2022. "South–South trade: An analysis of trade integration in the G‐77," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(7), pages 1430-1452, October.
    20. Nordensvard, Johan & Zhou, Yuan & Zhang, Xiao, 2018. "Innovation core, innovation semi-periphery and technology transfer: The case of wind energy patents," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 213-227.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:36:y:2018:i:s1:p:o476-o494. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/odioruk.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.