Customary land tenure and climate land transitions: A justice lens on Ghana’s land governance

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident in land systems across the Global South. In Ghana where customary tenure governs most of the land, climate-related interventions such as forest conservation and renewable energy projects are reshaping landscapes and power relations. This study evaluates the justice-related consequences of climate-driven land transitions in Ghana, drawing on case studies of a forest conservation program and a solar energy project in different customary settings. Employing a qualitative approach, the study applies a three-lens framework of procedural, distributive, and recognitional justice to assess how customary tenure mediates outcomes. Customary landowners (primarily chiefs/traditional leaders) remain central to land allocation. Still, decision-making was largely symbolic, and benefit-sharing lacked transparency, raising concerns about elite capture and unfair outcomes. The study’s contributions are twofold. First, it brings recognitional justice to the forefront and demonstrates how women, youth, herders, and migrants are not only excluded procedurally but also rendered invisible as legitimate actors and knowledge holders. Second, it demonstrates how climate interventions interact with Ghana’s plural land tenure system, with chiefs and custodians of land shaping all three justice dimensions in ways that affect equity and legitimacy. The study concludes that current land governance practices can potentially exacerbate existing inequalities. It is recommended that policy efforts promote inclusive engagement, transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms, and stronger accountability within both customary and formal institutions.