Exploring the Causes and Management of Pastoralists-Farmer Conflicts in Ghana

Abstract

Conflicts between pastoralists and farmers are not new to our farming communities in Ghana but in recent years the magnitude of these conflicts have increased especially in the Agogo traditional area of the Ashanti region of Ghana. This paper explores the causes of the conflicts and conflict management strategies used. In order to achieve the said objective a qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques were employed to study some 90 farmers who were directly affected by the conflicts in the study area. Data were collected using semi structured questionnaire administered through personal interviews. The data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. The study found out that, the conflicts between farmers and Fulani pastoralist in the study area was caused by five major factors which include; destruction of food crops by cattle and the killing of innocent citizens of the area which has brought fear and panic among citizens. Since the 1990s till today, the Fulani herdsmen have either shot and killed or butchered not less than 12 people in the study area. The conflicts were managed using several conflict management strategies, however what proved very effective was coercion and adjudication.