Farmers Education and Risk Perceptions of Large-Scale Mining in Ghana

Fred Owusu-Ansah

doi:10.12944/cwe.15.special-issue1.04

Abstract

Empirical studies that use household farmers as unit of analysis to examine the relative influence of education on risk perceptions of large scale mining projects in Ghana are virtually absent. This study combined evidence from literature, mixed methods, Pearson’s Chi square (X2) and correlation analyses. Systematic random sampling was used in selecting farmers. Data obtained from 725 households was analyzed using SPSS. The hypothesis “education has no relationship with farmers’ risk perceptions of large-scale mining projects in Ghana” was tested. Results revealed that large-scale mining has both positive and negative image in the minds of farmers. Farmers’ education strongly correlated with their knowledge of the state of the environment and natural resources before the arrival of the mining project [Pearson’s (X2) = 26.743; p = 0.024; Pearson's (r) = 0.791; p = 0.010]. Statistical evidence exists to support the claim that local communities protested against the mining project due to their ability to anticipate adverse effects of the project on environmental quality. Education significantly influenced farmers’ ability to link sources of livelihood to environmental and resource protection [Pearson's (X2) = 25.516, p = 0.043; Pearson's (r) = 0.640; p = 0.036]. Farmers’ risk perceptions of large scale mining as a threat to: community’s natural capital; traditional systems; environmental and social protection regime; established administrative procedures and good conducts of public officials; as well as being a threat to rural livelihood have serious implications for achieving the goals of sustainable mining in Ghana. Nonetheless, farmers associated mining as agent of economic development, and education significantly influenced this assessment [Pearson’s (X2) = 28.093, p = 0.021; Pearson’s (r) = 0.077; p = 0.041]. This paper concludes that education is a significant predictor in risk perception assessment. Robust environmental and social protection regimes, strong public institutions and improved socio-economic status are good predictors of farmers’ risk perceptions of mining.

Highlights

Studies on risk perception are sufficiently good predictors of communities’ attitudes and actions toward development projects.4. Such studies are essential in determining whether or not there is potential for community conflict,5 and help identify how mining companies and communities could co-exist and harness the resource endowment in the catchment area in a sustainable manner. 3Aubynn 2 and Tufour6 argued that different users of natural resources perceive and value resources differently; perceptions and values of environmental resources among different users are sources of conflicts
Within the context of mining and development, studies on community risk perception are important for a number of reasons: 1. Enable researchers and policy makers to establish the linkage between policies governing development projects and perceived risks among local communities, 2
Demographic Characteristics of Household Farmers in the Three Farming Communities Almost equal numbers of respondents from each of the three farming communities participated in the study (CI: n = 240; CII: n = 246; CIII: n = 239)

Summary

Introduction

The importance of research on communities’ risk perceptions has been expressed. Studies on risk perception are sufficiently good predictors of communities’ attitudes and actions toward development projects. Such studies are essential in determining whether or not there is potential for community conflict, and help identify how mining companies and communities could co-exist and harness the resource endowment in the catchment area in a sustainable manner. 3Aubynn 2 and Tufour argued that different users of natural resources perceive and value resources differently; perceptions and values of environmental resources among different users are sources of conflicts. The importance of research on communities’ risk perceptions has been expressed. . Studies on risk perception are sufficiently good predictors of communities’ attitudes and actions toward development projects.. Studies on risk perception are sufficiently good predictors of communities’ attitudes and actions toward development projects.4 Such studies are essential in determining whether or not there is potential for community conflict, and help identify how mining companies and communities could co-exist and harness the resource endowment in the catchment area in a sustainable manner. Enable policy makers to identify projects’ potential impacts on the host community beforehand, and the need to device strategies for managing relationships with resource communities.. Enable researchers and policy makers to establish the linkage between policies governing development projects and perceived risks among local communities, 2. Promote healthy relationship among stakeholders in resolving issues on economic gains, environmental protection, socio-cultural contestations and land use conflicts

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Results

Conclusion