Abstract: This study explores the operational and economic impact of crude oil production and exploitation on fishing activities in the Jomoro district of the Western Region of Ghana since 2010, the year of commercial production of crude oil in Ghana. In all, 40 respondents were sampled for the study using a purposeful sampling approach. The respondents, who were drawn from the Half-Assini, a fishing community in Jomoro district, were grouped into three major categories: ‘fishermen, fishmongers, and households referred to as consumers’. Interview guides and observation strategies were the main research instruments that were designed and administered for data collection. The study revealed that the general perception of respondents’ was earlier positive because they were expecting the oil and gas activities to boost their livelihood operations. The result, however, shows that the standard of living of the community has dropped caused by lack of many social amenities in the community and limitations imposed by authorities on their fishing activities. The study concludes that the oil and gas exploitation activities had caused great reduction in the quantity of fish catch as a result of the high lighting system used at the oil rigs which attracts fishes away from their operational domain of the fishermen. The study recommends the relaxation of rules to ensure that locals are not deprived of the fishing resources which constitute their social and economic mainstay.
Keywords: Jomoro, fishing activities, impact of crude oil, economic, operational, Western Region.
Title: The Operational and Economic Impact of Crude Oil Exploitation on Fishing Activities in the Jomoro District of Ghana
Author: Gabriel S.K Akakpo, Christabel S. Ewedji, Isaac Atta-Mensah, Wisdom Tsatsu
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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