Living in the Shadow of the Large Dams: Long Term Responses of Downstream and Lakeside Communities of Ghana's Volta River Project (African Social Studies Series)

Studies of populations affected by Large Dams are usually about physically displaced and resettled communities. This book on the Volta River Project breaks with the mould and tackles the long term environmental and socio-economic impacts of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams, and livelihood responses of two neglected groups- downstream and lakeside communities. In a detailed study which takes a gendered political economy of livelihoods approach, the book considers the contribution of factors such as the environmental restructuring of the Lower Volta, the exodus of its most economically active population to the Volta Lake, the State's neglect of affected communities, the changing socio-economic context of Ghana, and social relations of class, gender and kinship, to livelihood trajectories and outcomes. Annotation Studies Of Populations Affected By Large Dams Are Usually About Physically Displaced And Resettled Communities. This Book On The Volta River Project Breaks With The Mould And Tackles The Long Term Environmental And Socio-economic Impacts Of The Akosombo And Kpong Dams And The Livelihood Responses Of Two Neglected Groups- Downstream And Lakeside Communities. In A Detailed Study Which Takes A Gendered Political Economy Of Livelihoods Approach, The Book Examines Livelihoods In Downstream And Lakeside Communities From A Historical Perspective. The Study Takes Into Account The Contribution Of Factors Such As The Environmental Restructuring Of The Lower Volta And The Exodus Of Its Most Economically Active Population To The Volta Lake, The State's Neglect Of Affected Communities, The Changing Economic And Social Context Of Ghana, And Social Relations Of Class, Gender And Kinship (including Inter-generational Relations) To Livelihood Trajectories And Outcomes. Readership: Policy Makers, Researchers, Students Of Development And Civil Society Activists Interested In The Debates About Large Dams And Their Long Term Impacts On Downstream Communities, Rural Migration, The Livelihoods Approaches And Gender Analysis Within A Political Economy Approach. Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. Volta River Project : Historical Perspectives -- Ch. 3. Lower Volta And The Volta River Project : Dam Impacts And Environmental Change -- Ch. 4. State Policy And Community Responses : The Politics Of Reluctant Selective Action And Ineffectual Activism -- Ch. 5. Livelihoods In Times Of Stress : Long Term Responses To Environmental Change At Mepe And Sokpoe -- Ch. 6. Social Relations Of Livelihoods At Mepe And Sokpoe -- Ch. 7. Responses To The Volt River Project : Voluntary Migration And The Establishment Of Lakeside Settlements -- Ch. 8. From Multiple Activities To Group Specialisation : Livelihoods At Kpando Torkor, Surveyor Line And Kudikope -- Ch. 9. Concluding Chapter. By Dzodzi Tsikata. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [417]-434) And Index.