Natural Resource Conflict Between Farmers and Fulani Pastoralists in West Africa: The Case of Biakoye and Krachi East Districts in Ghana

Abstract

Despite several occurrence of natural resource conflict between farmers and Fulani Pastoralists in the West African sub-region, this particularly study was primarily concerned with exploring the nature, dynamics, causal factors, as well as the human and national security implications of the conflictual relations between famers and Fulani Herdsmen/Pastoralists in the Biakoye and Krachi East districts of Ghana. The study employed the exploratory and descriptive qualitative research approaches which relied on primary and secondary data through interviews, literature review from books, journals articles, working papers, and online internet sites for data analyses. Major findings of the study reveal that, the nature of the conflictual relations between Famers and Fulani Herdsmen/ Pastoralist in the Biakoye and Krachi East Districts of Ghana manifest in verbal, psychological and physical conflict situations. It also reveals that, with respect to the dynamics the conflictual relations between Famers and Fulani Herdsmen/ Pastoralist in the Biakoye and Krachi East Districts of Ghana the study revealed that such conflicts have become more pronounced and conspicuous in the Fourth Republic of Ghana that if effective security measures are not taken to curb them, they could plunge the country into anarchy, chaos, and eventually domestic violence soon. The study also reveals that the there are several factors accounting for the prevalence of the Conflictual Relations Between Famers and Fulani Herdsmen/ Pastoralist in the Biakoye and Krachi East Districts, including unfavorable land tenure systems and environmental conditions. It also discloses that, the main human security threats of the conflictual relations between famers and Fulani herdsmen/pastoralists in the Biakoye and Krachi East districts include social, political, economic, cultural and security impacts which have direct bearing on citizens or individuals rather the state. However, with regards to the national security implications the study revealed that the main state security threats of the conflictual relations between famers and Fulani herdsmen/pastoralists in the Biakoye and Krachi East districts include small arms proliferation, high tendency for extremism and escalation of violence in the districts, high tendency for terrorism, increase in crime rates and other social vices in the districts and poor global image in dealing with Fulani-farmers crisis in the country. Notwithstanding the efforts by the Government of Ghana to ensure national security towards promoting peace and security in the country, the study reveals that there are some few challenges which militate against the effective resolution of the conflictual relations between famers and Fulani herdsmen/pastoralists in the country including the Biakoye and Krachi East districts of Ghana, including financial and personnel constraints. Towards this end, the study concludes that the struggle for land and water resources by the Fulani herdsmen for cattle grazing and settlement contributes significantly to the conflictual relations between famers and Fulani Herdsmen/ Pastoralists in the Biakoye and Krachi East districts of Ghana. The study finally recommends that more research should also be carried out on the prevailing and emerging national security threats as they relate to Fulani-farmers’ conflict situations across the country. This will enable policy makers, security organizations and the government to use the outcomes of such research as planning tools to know the changing trends of the causes, implications, and suitable solutions for addressing such security threats in the country.