PERSPECTIVE AND RELATIONSHIP QUESTION OF INTRACTABLE FARMER-HERDER CONFLICTS IN GHANA, AFRICA

Authors

  • H. Musah SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
  • A. Sulemana SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
  • T. Tseer Ghana Education Service, Tamale, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47740/638.UDSIJD6i

Abstract

Cultural factors underpin most of the intractable farmer-herder conflicts in Africa, as in Ghana.
Nonetheless, these factors gained limited scholarly attention. This paper examines the infamous farmerherder conflict in the Asante-Akyem District of the Ashanti Region. Four hundred respondents
cumulatively were randomly and purposely selected in a mixed study design. A cross-tabulation was ran
to determine the extent to which differences in nationality, religion, norms, values, and stereotyping
played roles in the conflict. The study found that; 94.7% of farmers, 88.7% of herders, 87.9% of middle
persons’ group, and 83.3% of chiefs and cattle owners respectively, agreed that the differences in these
variables are the prime cultural factors that have sustained the conflict and impeded its resolution. The
study recommends a re-socialisation of Fulani herders and their host communities by conflict experts
and other stakeholders through workshops to foster healthy co-existence in their diversities.

Keywords: Farmer-Herders, Conflict, Cultural Variabilities, Intractability, Resolution

Author Biographies

H. Musah, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies

1 Dr Halidu Musah (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer - Conflict Resolution and Peace Building/Peace and Security and Democratic governance with SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Ghana. Dr Musah has worked in the area of peace, security, conflict resolution and democratic governance for over two decades. Subjects he is interested in are democratic consolidation, crime control, peace and conflict resolution, safety, and international relations and diplomacy. He is currently on secondment as Principal for Gbewaa College of Education, Pusiga, till 2025.

A. Sulemana, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies

Professor Mohammed Sulemana (PhD) is Policy Analyst Lecturer with SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Ghana. Subject is interested in ethnic conflict resolution and peace education, and has worked for more than two decades. He is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Public Policy and Governance.

T. Tseer, Ghana Education Service, Tamale, Ghana

Mr. Tseer Tobias (PhD Candidate) is a Senior High School Teacher with over ten years practical teaching experience. Mr.  Tobias is interested in inter-ethnic conflict and food security.

Downloads

Published

2022-12-29

How to Cite

Musah, H., Sulemana, A., & Tseer, T. (2022). PERSPECTIVE AND RELATIONSHIP QUESTION OF INTRACTABLE FARMER-HERDER CONFLICTS IN GHANA, AFRICA. UDS International Journal of Development, 9(2), 881–893. https://doi.org/10.47740/638.UDSIJD6i

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2022): UDS International Journal of Development

Section

Humanities

License

Copyright (c) 2022 As a publisher of this Journal, the University for Development Studies reserves full copyright ownership of the Journal and all submissions published in it.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

As a publisher of this Journal, the University for Development Studies reserves full copyright ownership of the Journal and all submissions published in it.