Abstract:
The development of Ghana requires adequate revenue generation from the oil and
gas sector. In the country’s quest to generate revenue for its development, a
number of damages are caused to both the livelihoods of people in the oil
producing areas and the environment. The research examined the environmental
implications of oil and gas activities on the livelihoods of citizens in Akyinkyin in
the western region of Ghana. Both the probability and non-probability methods of
research were used. The study also employed the simple random sampling and
purposive sampling methods in selecting respondents for the study. Questionnaire
and focus group discussion guide was the main data collection instrument and a
sample size of 350 respondents was used along with one focus group discussion.
Frequencies, tables, percentages and thematic approaches were also used to
present the data. The research found that the exploration of oil and gas activities
led to high teenage pregnancies, reduced fishing and farming activities and loss of
farmlands. It was also found that plant species and traditional herbs used for
medicines have been lost and there have been oil spills into water bodies. It is
therefore recommended that there should be an intensification of oil and gas
monitoring activities in order to reduce oil spills and other environmental dangers.
