Briefing Paper

Human Security Concerns in the Western Region of Ghana: An Analysis of the Oil and Gas Industry

The production of oil and gas is contributing to Ghana’s GDP. However, there are palpable human security threats associated with oil and gas production. This policy brief examines oil and gas-related human security threats on host communities in the Western Region of Ghana. The paper identifies toxic drilling mud spills, gas flaring and low fish catch as the key effects of the upstream industry. It further explores the legal and policy gaps in addressing these concerns and provides policy recommendations including the need to build the investigative capacity of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into oil-related accidents.