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The Chieftaincy Institution in Ghana: Causers and Arbitrators of Conflicts in Industrial Jatropha Investments

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  • Benjamin Betey Campion

    (Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Emmanuel Acheampong

    (Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Large-scale land acquisition in Africa has been the concern and the focus of growing global literature on land grabbing. The upswing in biofuel investments in Ghana led to large-scale land acquisitions by the private sector presided over by chiefs. This research investigates how chiefs, in playing their traditional roles in the acquisition of land and as arbitrators, were, in most instances, the cause and the solution to the ensuing conflicts in the various communities. Data was collected through interviews, use of questionnaires and focus group discussions. Some of the conflict issues include loss of farmlands or other communal lands, disagreements on the land acquisition processes, the quantum and mode of execution of compensation payments and the existence or contents of social responsibility agreements. Furthermore, the use of negotiation, mediation and courts by people in these communities relative to arbitration by chiefs is increasing. The Government of Ghana needs to strengthen the public sector land institutions and put in place stronger and binding mechanisms for resolving disputes arising from large-scale acquisitions of land to cushion the effect of the weakening confidence in the chieftaincy institution.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Betey Campion & Emmanuel Acheampong, 2014. "The Chieftaincy Institution in Ghana: Causers and Arbitrators of Conflicts in Industrial Jatropha Investments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:9:p:6332-6350:d:40196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. John Anku & Nathan Andrews & Logan Cochrane, 2022. "The Global Land Rush and Agricultural Investment in Ghana: Existing Knowledge, Gaps, and Future Directions," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Ahmed, Abubakari, 2021. "Biofuel feedstock plantations closure and land abandonment in Ghana: New directions for land studies in Sub-Saharan Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Kirst, Sarah, 2017. "Chiefs do not talk law, most of them talk power: Die Macht traditioneller Autoritäten in Konflikten um 'land grabbing' in Ghana," GLOCON Working Paper Series 5, Freie Universität Berlin, Junior Research Group "Global Change – Local Conflicts?" (GLOCON).
    4. Zhou, Lin & Zhang, Wenjia & Fang, Chenyu & Sun, Hanyue & Lin, Jian, 2020. "Actors and network in the marketization of rural collectively-owned commercial construction land (RCOCCL) in China: A pilot case of Langfa, Beijing," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    5. Ahmed, Abubakari & Kuusaana, Elias Danyi & Gasparatos, Alexandros, 2018. "The role of chiefs in large-scale land acquisitions for jatropha production in Ghana: insights from agrarian political economy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 570-582.
    6. Festus Boamah & Ragnhild Overå, 2016. "Rethinking Livelihood Impacts of Biofuel Land Deals in Ghana," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 47(1), pages 98-129, January.
    7. Gasparatos, A. & von Maltitz, G.P. & Johnson, F.X. & Lee, L. & Mathai, M. & Puppim de Oliveira, J.A. & Willis, K.J., 2015. "Biofuels in sub-Sahara Africa: Drivers, impacts and priority policy areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 879-901.
    8. Ahmed, Abubakari & Campion, Benjamin Betey & Gasparatos, Alexandros, 2017. "Biofuel development in Ghana: policies of expansion and drivers of failure in the jatropha sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 133-149.
    9. Michael Acheampong & Qiuyan Yu & Funda Cansu Ertem & Lucy Deba Enomah Ebude & Shakhawat Tanim & Michael Eduful & Mehrdad Vaziri & Erick Ananga, 2019. "Is Ghana Ready to Attain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 7?—A Comprehensive Assessment of Its Renewable Energy Potential and Pitfalls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-40, January.
    10. Adams, Ellis A. & Kuusaana, Elias D. & Ahmed, Abubakari & Campion, Benjamin B., 2019. "Land dispossessions and water appropriations: Political ecology of land and water grabs in Ghana," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    11. Kumeh, Eric Mensah & Kyereh, Boateng & Birkenberg, Athena & Birner, Regina, 2021. "Customary power, farmer strategies and the dynamics of access to protected forestlands for farming: Implications for Ghana's forest bioeconomy," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).

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