Impact assessment of the governance principles in the implementation of dam-induced involuntary resettlement on host communities: the case of the Bui Dam in Ghana

Any form of resettlement of people requires applying some governance processes to guide its implementation processes. Resettlement and governance – are entangled because acceptability and ownership of a resettlement programme by community members are associated with the manner of application of good governance principles. Several studies have focused on the impact of resettlements on affected people and communities, however, little is known about the impact of the governance principles being applied in the implementation of resettlements on the hosts. This study seeks to investigate the impact of governance principles applied in the implementation of dam-induced involuntary resettlement on host communities. A good governance principles framework was used, using the case of the Bui Dam resettlement in Ghana. Findings of the paper, obtained via a mixed-methods approach, indicate that in the Bui Dam resettlement, the governance processes failed to protect the hosts’ interests as they perceived public participation and transparency to be low and no fair compensation received. The study demonstrates that governance processes of resettlements in the Global South appear feeble to protect host communities’ interests.