Farmers and nomads conflict management in Asante Akyem North district

Abstract

The farmer and nomad conflict in the Agogo area seems to be more and more severe which has led to loss of lives and destruction of properties. The severity of the farmer nomad conflict has precipitated a number of conflict management methods in controlling this protracted conflict in the Agogo area, but to no avail. Therefore, this study sought to examine why the various conflict management methods adopted to control the conflict have not worked and explore the community perspectives concerning how the conflict should be managed. Adopting the qualitative case study design and using the purposive sampling procedure, twelve (12) participants were selected for an interview with strict inclusion criteria. The study revealed adjudication, confrontation and the use of force as the management methods adopted to control the farmer-herder conflict in the Agogo area. Also, the study showed that the various conflict management methods proved ineffective owing to ineffective policing, interference from political players, bribery and corruption and failure on the part of the cattle owners to resort to the ranching system. The study further revealed that the community perspective on how to manage the farmer and nomad conflict in the Agogo area is total evacuation of the nomads from the area, and preferably the ranching system as well as effective policing. Hence, it is recommended that the Government of Ghana and traditional authorities in Agogo State should be firm and fair in the management and implementation of court decisions with regard to the farmer-nomad conflict of Agogo.