Understanding the relationship between poverty, environmental degradation, and power dynamics: a qualitative study in Northern Ghana

Abstract

This study investigates the connection between poverty, power dynamics and environmental degradation, focusing on the specific context of Northern Ghana. Within the remits of environmental degradation, agriculture has long been acknowledged as a significant contributor to the depletion of environmental resources, although, recent discussions have highlighted the differential impact of poor and rich farmers. Employing a qualitative approach and utilizing multistage sampling techniques, this research delves into how poverty or wealth influences deforestation and water pollution, as well as the persistent narratives surrounding the primary drivers of environmental degradation. Qualitative data were gathered from 35 participants through semi-structured interviews. The interviews lasted between 45 min and 1 h. The data were analyzed thematically to explore the relationships between poverty, environmental degradation, and power dynamics in agricultural practices. The findings reveal that both poor and rich farmers contribute to deforestation, with rich farmers playing a substantial role in the expansion of farming activities. Additionally, the study uncovers that water pollution is predominantly caused by wealthier farmers, through the spillover of agrochemicals. Significantly, the study highlights the exclusion of the poor from poverty-environment studies and their limited power and influence as crucial factors that perpetuate the prevailing poverty-resource-depletion narrative. This study emphasizes the need to contextualize the poverty-environmental degradation nexus, recognizing it as a result of power dynamics and political agendas. The implications of these findings extend to policy formulation, underscoring the necessity of addressing underlying discourses of power for sustainable environmental management.