International Journal of Agriculture and Food Security (IJAFS) ISSN 0812-3497, Vol. 8(5), pp. 274-284, March, 2022.  Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper

Farmer-herder conflict in Agogo, Ghana: An exploratory analysis of history, actors, and land tenure system.

Emmanuel Agyemang

Institute of African Studies, University of Leipzig

*Corresponding author’s Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Accepted 27th October,  2020.

Abstract 

Over the past three decades, the Asante Akyem Agogo of Ghana has had limited peace and stability, which are preconditions for sustainable development due to protracted farmer-herder conflicts. This study was conducted to investigate the genesis of the farmer-herders’ conflict, the actors involved as well as the land tenure system in the area. Two complementary analytical approaches are applied. The first consists of qualitative content analysis of documents on the conflict from the late 1990s-2017. The second is the collection and analysis of data through ethnographic fieldwork using a semi-structured, focus group discussion and observation from six purposively selected communities. This study highlights three main findings: 1) the rearing of cattle in Agogo in commercial quantities began after the release of lands from the chiefs of Agogo to some cattle owners; 2) the conflict is “purely” an economic conflict with many actors with competing interests, and 3) the land tenure system in Agogo makes land ownership a valuable commodity.

Keywords: Agogo, conflict, farmer-herder, actors, land tenure, history