Land access and livelihood security in expropriated areas : the Newmont Ghana Gold approach

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the positive and negative impacts of Mining Projects on the livelihoods of expropriated farming households with specific emphasis on access to land and alternative livelihood programmes. Land expropriation for large scale development projects has been the cause of widespread impoverishment of affected households and communities all over the world with strong reservations on the roles played by governments and multinational corporations involved in mitigating the adverse impacts. Regulations and laws governing the issues of compensation and resettlement have not been enough culminating in too little, or delayed compensation and resettlement programmes poorly planned. The outcome is the impoverishment of the affected households who struggle to make a living with their depleted and limited resources.