Briefing Paper

Addressing the Causes and Consequences of the Farmer-Herder Conflict in Ghana

For several years, tensions have existed between local farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Ghana. However, various factors have recently, contributed to the tensions taking on a violent nature and becoming one of Ghana’s foremost security threats. Based on an extensive fieldwork conducted in 2016/2017, this policy brief discusses the causes of the Farmer-herder conflict and its consequences on the security, social and economic structures of the country. It looks at the shortfalls of Operation Cowleg, the major intervention that has been implemented by the state and concludes with a few policy relevant recommendations
which includes a nationwide registration of herdsmen to support the government in the implementation of an effective taxation system.