In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam Project
Resettlement resulting from dam construction has raised several concerns due to the negative aftermath impacts. In Ghana, the construction of three hydroelectric dams resulted in large-scale resettlements. Given the little experience that Ghana has in resettlements, it is necessary for a robust moni...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-11-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/6/4/80 |
| _version_ | 1818695090559778816 |
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| author | Kwabena Asiama Monica Lengoiboni Paul van der Molen |
| author_facet | Kwabena Asiama Monica Lengoiboni Paul van der Molen |
| author_sort | Kwabena Asiama |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Resettlement resulting from dam construction has raised several concerns due to the negative aftermath impacts. In Ghana, the construction of three hydroelectric dams resulted in large-scale resettlements. Given the little experience that Ghana has in resettlements, it is necessary for a robust monitoring structure for resettlements. However, this was not available in the last resettlement undertaken for the Bui Dam Project. This paper aims at developing an assessment framework for monitoring resettlement activities on customary lands from a good governance perspective. Based on four good governance principles, transparency, public participation and inclusiveness, equity and rule of law and accountability, a good governance assessment framework is built and applied to the Bui Dam Project using a case study approach. Data were collected through interviews and focus group discussion with the key actors of the resettlement project. It was first found that the planning stage of the resettlement came out with a robust plan that was to prevent the impoverishment of the affected persons. However, in the implementation of the resettlement, not all good governance principles were adhered to. In conclusion, it was found that by deconstructing the resettlement process with a good governance framework, the problematic areas of the resettlement can be effectively differentiated between the planning and implementation phases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T13:39:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0553dfb0ed664b32b439fec6dd052cc7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T13:39:57Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-0553dfb0ed664b32b439fec6dd052cc72022-12-21T21:46:18ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2017-11-01648010.3390/land6040080land6040080In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam ProjectKwabena Asiama0Monica Lengoiboni1Paul van der Molen2Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, The NetherlandsFaculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, The NetherlandsFaculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, The NetherlandsResettlement resulting from dam construction has raised several concerns due to the negative aftermath impacts. In Ghana, the construction of three hydroelectric dams resulted in large-scale resettlements. Given the little experience that Ghana has in resettlements, it is necessary for a robust monitoring structure for resettlements. However, this was not available in the last resettlement undertaken for the Bui Dam Project. This paper aims at developing an assessment framework for monitoring resettlement activities on customary lands from a good governance perspective. Based on four good governance principles, transparency, public participation and inclusiveness, equity and rule of law and accountability, a good governance assessment framework is built and applied to the Bui Dam Project using a case study approach. Data were collected through interviews and focus group discussion with the key actors of the resettlement project. It was first found that the planning stage of the resettlement came out with a robust plan that was to prevent the impoverishment of the affected persons. However, in the implementation of the resettlement, not all good governance principles were adhered to. In conclusion, it was found that by deconstructing the resettlement process with a good governance framework, the problematic areas of the resettlement can be effectively differentiated between the planning and implementation phases.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/6/4/80resettlementcompulsory land acquisitiongovernancedam constructioncustomary lands |
| spellingShingle | Kwabena Asiama Monica Lengoiboni Paul van der Molen In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam Project Land resettlement compulsory land acquisition governance dam construction customary lands |
| title | In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam Project |
| title_full | In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam Project |
| title_fullStr | In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam Project |
| title_full_unstemmed | In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam Project |
| title_short | In the Land of the Dammed: Assessing Governance in Resettlement of Ghana’s Bui Dam Project |
| title_sort | in the land of the dammed assessing governance in resettlement of ghana s bui dam project |
| topic | resettlement compulsory land acquisition governance dam construction customary lands |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/6/4/80 |
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