Analysis of spatial interactions between the Shea industry and mining sector activities in the emerging north-west gold province of Ghana

Abstract

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. The spatial interactions between valuable trees and large-scale mining sector activities provides risks and uncertainties on rural economic livelihood. This generates public clamour and resistance to mineral resource development in developing countries. Hence, this paper analyses the spatial interactions and magnitude of the impacts of large-scale mining industry activities on the Shea as an economic tree. A case study is conducted at the emerging north-west gold province of Ghana. Both primary and secondary data were obtained during two fieldworks. Whereas there is a robust Location Association (La)=70 between a Shea-led manufacturing industry and the wholesale and retail sector, a weak location association is found with mining and quarrying, and the manufacturing sectors. The associated industries are inter-dependent for inputs from the Shea tree, though the spatial analysis reveals that a minimum of 22,460 Shea trees and 806,407 kg of fruits would be displaced. The displacements would affect both manufacturing and wholesale and retail sectors, basically dominated by rural women. Albeit, the findings of the study can improve the levels of communication between local communities, mining companies and governments.