Spatial Distribution of Resources and Poverty Incidence in Ghana
Abstract
This paper investigates the spatial distribution of resources, production activities and poverty in Ghana. The study found that the presence of natural resources in an area over a period of time greatly influences industrial activities in that locality. Moreover, given that firms or manufacturing industries will usually site their business ventures close to the sources of resource attraction, the processes of production including value addition, packaging, and refinery largely becomes vibrant in resource rich areas than less-resource zones. In Ghana, there seems to be an uneven distribution of natural resources across the administrative regions and ecological zones. This kind of distribution has resulted in the creation of additional jobs in areas endowed with natural resources. Data for the studies was obtain from Ghana statistical service
Spatial distribution of natural resources positively influences most important production activities in the discovered areas. A boom in production activities within an areas certainly reflect on the poverty incidence of the people since it creates both direct and indirect employment opportunities in that area. The paper suggests diversification of the economy, equitable allocation of resources to deprived areas to ensures comprehensive development and poverty alleviation in all aspects of life of the ordinary Ghanaian .Government needs to as well put in the needed measures to ensure people gets direct benefits from resources exploited in their communities as most of these exploitive activities pose negative externalities to the people.
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