Housing and Residential Preferences Among Large-Scale Miners - A Case Study of Staff of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited
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Date
2025-06
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UENR
Abstract
This study examined the housing and residential preferences of large-scale miners at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited in the Ahafo Region, with the aim of identifying their preferred housing types, assessing the factors that influence these preferences, and exploring the challenges they face in the rental housing market. The study adopted a mixed-methods descriptive design under the pragmatist paradigm. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from a sample of 149 respondents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis in SPSS version 23.0, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic content analysis. The findings revealed a strong preference for modern housing units, with 49.7% favouring semi-detached houses and 28.9% preferring apartments, largely due to privacy, space, and family comfort. Income levels, household size, and proximity to the mine emerged as the most significant determinants of housing choice. The study also identified major rental challenges, with advance rent payments (mean = 3.61; t = 5.99, p < 0.001) and poor housing maintenance (mean = 3.30; t = 2.96, p = 0.004) as the most critical issues. The study concludes that miners’ housing choices reflect rational decision-making consistent with Price Theory and the Theory of Consumer Behaviour as they seek to maximise satisfaction within the constraints of affordability, household needs, and work-related demands. It is recommended that the government strengthen enforcement of the Rent Act to curb unlawful advance rent demands, mining companies expand employer-provided housing schemes, and landlords adopt flexible payment and maintenance systems to improve tenant satisfaction. The study contributes to the literature on housing in resource-driven economies and offers practical insights for policy makers, mining firms, and housing developers seeking to improve housing accessibility and quality in Ghana’s mining regions.
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Housing, Mine Workers, Environment