Road construction and its socio-economic and health impact: a case study of Atonsu lake road

Abstract

AbstractThe construction of roads has become very popular in our age due to heightened modernization, industrialization and the various benefits reaped from proper road systems. However, construction processes massively contribute to environmental pollution and negatively impact socio-economic activities, necessitating this study. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of road construction and socioeconomic and health impact using the Atonsu lake road construction as a case study. A mixed research method was employed in the research work. The quantitative method was used for primary data collection through the distribution of questionnaires, which surveyed the perception of inhabitants on the construction activity, and its health and socioeconomic effects. Through a qualitative method, data from the Kumasi south hospital was used to assess the impact of the activity on health. The income levels of inhabitants before and during the construction process were compared to the minimum wage in Ghana to analyze the impact on their socioeconomic lives. The research indicated that road construction has adversely impacted the health of Atonsu lake road inhabitants but saw a decline in the number of cases recorded at the hospital due to restrictions associated with COVID-19 and its accompanying stigmatization, which prevented people from reporting to the hospital. There was also a significant impact on the income levels of the inhabitants, which has a significant correlation with the frequency of client patronage before and during the construction of the road. Findings reinforce the need to greatly consider including effective dust abatement practices and a phase-by-phase implementation of road construction projects to reduce the negative impacts associated with the process.