A Local NGOs Framing of Offshore Oil Production Risks in Ghana

What is it about?

There is a growing interest among researchers and practitioners regarding how local knowledge can be harnessed to enhance environmental advocacy. This paper examines how a local environmental organization (Friends of the Nation) working in Ghana’s offshore oil production region was incorporating local cultural knowledge in its advocacy. It found that FoN uses “whale deaths” as an exemplar of the ecological impacts of the offshore oil production, even though in the folk culture of the coastal communities concerned whale deaths tend to signify bumper fish harvest. This finding has implications for the success of FoN's efforts.

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Why is it important?

First, this paper provides a framework for qualitative frame analysis. Second, there is evidence from elsewhere (e.g., Fung & O’Rourke, 2000; Konar & Cohen, 1997) that grassroots mobilization or public-facing strategies are more potent than policymakers-facing ones. The finding, therefore, underscores the strategic importance of understanding and directly engaging with residents and mobilizing them for action (even if the ultimate goal is to influence policymakers and corporate actors). And, also, community mobilization could benefit NGOs if their messaging derives from local socio-cultural meaning systems.