Land Grabbing Threatens Development Says Report

A report commissioned by Catholic relief agency, Caritas Ghana, has painted a gloomy picture of the country's chaotic management of lands and warned of dire consequences if land grabbing persists.

Titled: “Unmasking land grabbing in Ghana; restoring livelihoods; paving way for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, the report enumerates how land grabbing is wreaking havoc in the country especially rural livelihoods and threatening food security in the long run.

Inadequate land management and utilization policy coupled with previous economic development programmes, largely influenced by external forces, has created an environment for land grabbing in Ghana and it is dangerous for the future development of the country,”Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana said at the launch of the report yesterday.

According to Mr. Akologo, the report identified urbanization as another 'evil catalyst' in the land grab craze and added that the 'limited consultation with farmers, communities and households whose livelihoods depend on land in very important decisions, is a serious aberration with consequences for the violation of fundamental human rights.”

He said the report presented three case studies which demonstrated how land grabbing is a real threat to lives and livelihoods of especially those already at the margins of society and whose only coping mechanism is through their God-given resource of land.

Mr. Akologo further stated that the report indicated the dynamics of land grabbing which are tactfully driven and controlled by foreign investors with their ability to exploit loopholes in the national legal frameworks and the ignorance of communities.

Rev. Fr. Wisdom Larweh, Assistant Secretary General of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference said they want to use the report as “a springboard for many more fruitful steps to roll back the infested mat of land grabbing and restore productively the livelihood of our people.”

Rev. Fr. Dr. Aniedi Okure, Executive Director of African Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) who are co-sponsors of the report described foreign grab of African lands as an 'epidemic' but said some prominent and influential Africans are the conduits for such unfortunate happenings.

“The issue of Africans readily selling their heritage for a bowl of soup has assumed a troubling pattern,” he complained.

Programmes Director of Star Ghana Ibrahim Tanko Amidu who chaired the launch said land grabbing and land rights have become complex issues that need the attention of all stakeholders.

Ms. Marilyn Aniwa, Coordinator of PIAC who co-chaired the launch said land grabbing is holding back development and bemoaned the plunder of Ghana's natural resources by foreigners.

By William Yaw Owusu