Accessing the Impact of Blue Inland Waterways in Sub-Saharan Economy

Abstract

This study assesses the impact of the blue economy in sub-Saharan inland waterways. The study adopted a descriptive quantitative survey research design. We collected primary data online using a structured, closed-ended questionnaire. The population of the study, which also serves as the sample size, includes 282 individuals involved in fishing and water transport. We adopted the stratified random sampling technique and conducted a multiple regression analysis of the data. The demographic findings revealed that a greater proportion of respondents lived in urban areas, and their primary occupations are transportation and fishing. The analysis showed a strong positive link between the blue economy (which includes infrastructure quality, fishing revenue, transport revenue, and governance) and GDP per capita, with a high R-value of 0.968 and a 97% correlation. This study concluded that the blue economy significantly impacts GDP per capita. The study also recommends that enhancing governance frameworks and investing heavily in dependable infrastructure significantly boosts access to economic prospects. This study contributes to the growing discussion on the subject and highlights the need for deliberate governance interventions to fully exploit the blue economy's promise in sub-Saharan inland waterways.