Madam Abiba Nibaradun, Upper West Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, has called on landowners and communities to demarcate designated grazing areas for cattle during the cropping season to help reduce tensions between farmers and herders.
She said the measure would help minimize crop destruction by cattle, ease competition over limited grazing lands, and promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
Madam Nibaradun made the call in Tumu at a stakeholder meeting organized by Action for Sustainable Development (ASUDEV) in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana and other partners.
She stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to address recurring farmer-herder conflicts in the area, noting that the situation threatened livelihoods and economic empowerment, particularly among women.
Madam Nibaradun also appealed to cattle owners to stop using children, especially Fulbe children, as herders, describing the practice as child labour that infringes on the rights and development of children.
She emphasised that every child in Ghana, including Fulbe children, deserved access to education and should be in school rather than engaged in cattle herding.
Mr Osman Kanton, Executive Director of ASUDEV, identified competition over land and water resources, climate change, and deep-rooted mistrust as some of the major causes of recurring farmer-herder conflicts in the area.
Presenting findings from engagements with residents of 10 communities, he said farmers expressed concerns about crop destruction by cattle, night grazing, and the use of children as herders.
According to the findings, farmers also cited the felling of shea trees, intimidation of women, and the lack of cooperation from some herders during investigations into crop damage as key challenges.
The herders, on the other hand, identified the absence of designated cattle routes and grazing lands, farming activities too close to Fulbe settlements, the lack of kraals, and threats against young herders as their major concerns.
The findings further revealed that herders considered excessive compensation demands and the poisoning of cattle among the key challenges they faced.
Mr Kanton urged chiefs and cattle owners to ensure that every herd was kept in a secure kraal, while communities should designate communal grazing areas and involve Fulbe leaders in resolving crop destruction cases fairly.
He also called on the Sissala East Municipal Assembly to enact bye-laws requiring secure kraals for large cattle herds and prohibiting night grazing during the cropping season.
Kuoro Tortimah Nansia, Divisional Chief of Kulfuo, said: “Every section should have a place for cattle to feed on, and any section that refuses will not be allowed to rear cattle in the community.”
Mr Jordan Benpula of SAVE-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, stressed the need for inclusive dialogue to ensure that Fulbe leaders and women were involved in decision-making processes to foster lasting peace.
He said bye-laws on farmer-herder conflicts had already been developed and gazetted in the Sissala East Municipality and would soon take effect.
Mr Adamu Benin Yakubu, Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive, assured participants that the Assembly remained committed to supporting initiatives that promoted peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
Madam Sala Mohammed, a participant from Bugubelle, recounted how cattle had destroyed her farm produce and expressed hope that the meeting would help address the issue, which disproportionately affected women.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Mohammed Balu
Email: [email protected]
July 20, 2026
Picture caption: Madam Abiba Nibaradun addressing the participants at the workshop
