In Ghana, professor warns of impoverishment due to improper land acquisition — MyJoyOnline

In Ghana, improper land acquisition for development projects and the resettlement of residents may lead to the impoverishment of those affected, said Professor Helen Michelle Corkor Essandoh, director of the Regional Transport Research and Education Centre at KNUST. According to her, people whose land is acquired for project implementation often lose not only their homes but also businesses, farmland, resources and social ties.

The professor made the remarks on the sidelines of a training programme conducted by the TRECK centre jointly with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, with support from the World Bank, MyJoyOnline reports.

Risks of infrastructure development

Essandoh noted that the implementation of development projects may be accompanied by environmental risks and social problems that sometimes do not receive adequate attention. She stressed that people's lives are closely connected to land: it is where they live, work, maintain cultural traditions and sustain social contacts.

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In her assessment, the development of road networks, other infrastructure and water supply systems often affects areas where people already live. If resettlement results in the loss of livelihoods, those affected may find themselves in a worse position despite the potential benefits of the project itself.

Training in social risk management

The professional certification programme focused on environmental and social risk management, including land acquisition and involuntary resettlement. Participants completed eight modules, including legal and institutional frameworks, land acquisition and resettlement planning, compensation, livelihood restoration, stakeholder engagement, preparation of resettlement plans and issues of gender-based violence.

Dr Paul Rex Dankwa, a representative of GIMPA, urged participants at the closing ceremony to apply the knowledge they had gained in practice. Programme participants said that the skills acquired would help them review and implement appropriate resettlement plans in their countries.