Managing Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Ghana’s Volta Basin

Abstract

Farmer-herder conflicts have become rather widespread throughout West Africa and constitute a threat to peace and stability in many countries. This paper examines the management of farmer-herder conflicts in the Volta basin of Ghana. Using information gathered from five communities through the use of participant observation, interviews and focus group discussions, the paper describes the increasing migration of farmers, herders, fishermen and traders into the Volta basin area. The increasing population has accentuated conflicts between farmers and herders as the two groups compete for the use of the resources of the area. The paper also examines in detail the role that the Livestock Farmers Association and other institutions play in mitigating and managing farmer-herder conflicts in the Volta basin.