Security analyst Richard Kumadoe has called for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s land ownership system, arguing that the current arrangement is a major driver of violent conflicts across the country.
His comments come in the wake of renewed clashes in Gbenyiri, a farming community in the Savannah Region, which have claimed 10 lives and left several others injured.
Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews on Monday, Mr Kumadoe said the country’s fragmented land tenure system has long been a source of disputes.
“Apart from the Ashanti Region, where lands belong to the stool and the Asantehene, in many parts of this country, lands belong to families, individuals, clans, and tribes. We need to re-examine this,” he stated.
He explained that the lack of clarity in land ownership, distribution, and acquisition has fueled many deadly disputes over the years.
“We have left this issue unattended for far too long, and it is costing lives. Policymakers must revisit the land tenure system, introduce reforms, and ensure transparency to prevent conflicts, protect lives, and strengthen national security,” he added.
JoyNews’ Isaac Nongya reports that the latest Gbenyiri clashes stem from a long-standing dispute between indigenous landowners and private land developers in the community.