The Effects of Electricity Transmission Lines on Community Livelihoods in Ghana

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to establish the effects of electricity transmission lines on the livelihoods of communities in Ghana.

Method/ Approach: The paper adopts the stakeholder theory framework with quantitative research techniques to explained and established the effect of electricity transmission lines on community livelihoods.

Findings: The findings revealed that, electricity transmission projects have a substantial effect on communities such as access to farmlands. It also emerged that communities perceived such projects as a threat to their health and livelihood.

Originality: Contextually and geographically, paper is the first of its kind and has not been published anywhere.

Limitations: The limitation of the paper lies in its methodological approach where a qualitative research technique could have unearthern the perceptions variables of community dwellers

Recommendation: It is recommended that an effective and broader community education and stakeholder must be done prior to the implementation any electricity transmission line projects. The use of other data collection and sampling techniques to enable the transferability and generalization of the findings is recommended.

Conclusion: The study concluded that electricity transmission projects do provide benefits for the communities within the catchment areas, despite the negative perceptions held by residence of such communities.

Keywords: Communities, Electricity, Ghana, Livelihoods, Transmission.

DOI: 10.7176/JETP/12-2-03

Publication date: April 30^th 2022