Livelihood impacts of boating accidents on Lake Volta : A case study of Dambai, Abotoase, Kpedzi, Tsevi, and Agyatakope communities in Ghana

Abstract

This study looks at the livelihood viability of boating dependent farming and trading households who have lost a member or property through boating accidents on the Volta Lake. It focuses on the differential vulnerability that households undergo and the coping and adaptive livelihood strategies they undertake after suffering from a boating accident. It also assesses the sources of assistance available to boating dependent households and their effectiveness. The livelihood approach as well as the PAR and Access models provided the framework for analysing the livelihoods of boating disaster households. The qualitative research method was solely employed to investigate households that suffered from boating accidents in five communities in Ghana. The findings of the study have many implications for the livelihoods of boating accident households. The study revealed that both low income and high income households experienced some disasters after losing members or property through boating accidents. The study also revealed that many of the disaster households have limited livelihood opportunities and that this to a large extent structure the post-disaster livelihood strategies they undertake. The study further found that community support services are the major source of assistance to boating disaster households, but insufficient to make much positive impacts on their livelihoods. The study is therefore of the view that social protection by the state should play a greater role in minimising the negative impacts of boating accidents and empowering the livelihoods of boating dependent households.