Abstract:
The study assessed livelihood activities undertaken within the KLCRS in
order to ascertain how sustainable these livelihoods were amidst the
reported high levels of anthropogenic pressure on the wetland. An
exploratory sequential mixed method research design guided this study.
In-depth interviews and structured interviews questionnaires were used to
collect qualitative and quantitative data respectively. Descriptive statistics
was performed to determine livelihood assets available in KLCRS. With
the use of Principal Component Analysis, the factors that determine
livelihood options, the vulnerability context within which these
livelihoods were situated, as well as the livelihood outcomes were
explored. The findings of the study showed that residents within KLCRS
largely depended on natural capital to source and enhance their
livelihoods. It was also found that physiological factors were largely
responsible for explaining respondents’ choice of livelihood. Also, the
livelihood outcomes of residents were found to be environmentally
unsustainable. It is recommended that Government in collaboration with
traditional leaders of communities within Ghana’s Ramsar sites work at
getting a scheme where all users of wetland-resources are registered and
a means of managing and monitoring livelihood activities clearly mapped
out to ensure the wise use of resources within Ghana’s Ramsar sites.
