The Government of Ghana, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) through the multi-donor Coastal States Stability Mechanism (CSSM), convened a national workshop on transhumance and farmer-herder relations on August 5, 2026, at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in Accra. This significant event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders – national institutions, regional authorities, development partners, civil society organizations, implementing partners, and technical experts – to address critical challenges impacting the livelihoods and security of communities in northern Ghana’s transhumance region. The workshop’s primary focus was to improve the management of seasonal livestock mobility, strengthen peaceful coexistence between farming and pastoralist communities, and mitigate the risks associated with increasing pressure on land and water resources, coupled with climate-related vulnerabilities. The increasing frequency of transhumant herders and livestock movements, tracked by the IOM’s Transhumance Tracking Tool (TTT) over the past 4200 individuals and nearly 100,000 animals, underscores the urgent need for enhanced coordination and proactive preventative measures. The workshop’s findings revealed a heightened risk of localized tensions stemming from competition for grazing land and water access, exacerbated by uneven implementation of local governance mechanisms. Between June and November 2025, the IOM’s Transhumance Tracking Tool recorded a staggering 4,200 transhumant herders and nearly 100,000 livestock moving along key corridors, demonstrating the scale of the issue. The Early Warning system also registered over 40 alerts, many linked to farmer-herder disputes, land encroachment, and resource scarcity. The workshop facilitated a critical opportunity for national stakeholders to identify practical solutions, strengthen coordination among institutions responsible for managing transhumance, and collaboratively develop evidence-based policies. Specifically, the workshop provided a platform for reviewing existing regulatory frameworks, addressing implementation challenges, and exploring collaborative strategies, while maintaining the vital role of local experiences in informing national policy. The discussions centered on the need for a more integrated approach, drawing on data-driven insights alongside dialogue and collaboration, championed by Major General Timothy Ba-Taa-Banah, Director of Ghana’s National Counter-Terrorism Fusion Centre. The workshop concluded with recommendations for a more inclusive and coordinated strategy, encompassing the active involvement of farmers, herders, livestock owners, traditional authorities, civil society, and government actors. A key commitment was to sustain dialogue, strengthen cross-district and cross-border collaboration, and enhance coordination between Regional and District Security Councils through regular information sharing and joint response mechanisms. The workshop was facilitated by the Coastal States Stability Mechanism (CSSM), funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the Climate Change and Migration Data (CCMD) Programme, supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event represents a significant step toward addressing the complex challenges inherent in managing transhumance in northern Ghana, ensuring the long-term stability of communities and the continued prosperity of the region.
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Source: Adom Online
