An Assessment of the Implications of Multiple Land Sales on Economic Development in the Awutu Senya East Municipality

Abstract

The increasing population has reflected an extensive demand for land for agricultural, residential, commercial, and small-scale industrial activities resulting in tensions or land disputes among communities. The study sought to examine the implication of multiple land sales on the economic development of the Awutu Senya East Municipality. To achieve this, the study employed a qualitative approach and the main instruments for data collection were interview guides. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed and 24 respondents, were sampled as the participants of the study. The key findings of the study were that; customary freehold and leasing or leasehold arrangements are the common landholding arrangements in the study area. The study also found that there is a strong link between multiple land sales and social tension in the study area. It was found that the causes of multiple land sales in the municipality are as a result of greed, misunderstanding between chiefs and sub-chiefs, hardship, and abandoned lands among others. Finally, the study found that the impact of multiple land sales in the municipality has enormous effects on its economic development. Some of the effects revealed by the respondents are the fact that it stifles development, discourages investors from coming to the area, leads to emotional stress and affects market activities in the area. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were given; prospective land buyers should carry out a thorough search of lands before purchasing, and the state and the relevant agencies should educate the public on the implications of multiple land sales and their effects on economic development of the country.