Ghana, IOM mobilises stakeholders to tackle farmer -herder conflicts through dialogue, data 

Government of Ghana has intensified  efforts to strengthen national cooperation and improve the management of transhumance as part of measures to promote peaceful relations between farmers and herders and prevent conflicts in the country’s northern regions. 

The initiative was reinforced at a national workshop on transhumance and farmer–herder relations convened on August 5, 2026, by the National Security Council  Secretariat (NSCS), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), through the multi-donor Coastal States Stability Mechanism (CSSM).

The workshop brought together representatives of national institutions, regional  authorities, development partners, civil society organisations, implementing partners and technical experts to examine practical ways of improving the governance of seasonal livestock movement across Ghana.

Participants focused on strengthening peaceful coexistence between farming and pastoralist communities, improving coordination among institutions responsible  for transhumance management, and promoting evidence-based approaches to addressing emerging tensions associated with livestock mobility.

Transhumance remains an important livelihood activity for many communities  in northern Ghana, where pastoralists and their livestock move seasonally in search of pasture and water.

However, increasing pressure on land  and water resources, climate-related challenges and uneven implementation of local governance mechanisms have continued to create conditions capable of triggering tensions between farming and pastoralist communities.

Data generated by IOM’s Transhumance Tracking Tool (TTT) underscores the  scale of seasonal livestock movement in the affected regions.

Between June and November 2025, the  TTT recorded more than 4,200 transhumant herders and nearly 100,000 livestock moving along key transhumance corridors in Ghana’s Upper East and Upper West regions.

During the same period, the Early Warning system recorded more than 40 alerts, with most linked to farmer–herder disputes, competition over grazing land and conflicts arising from access  to water resources.

The figures, stakeholders said, demonstrate the need for stronger coordination, timely information sharing and locally led prevention mechanisms to address potential conflicts before they escalate.

The national workshop, therefore,  provided an important platform for stakeholders to assess existing mechanisms  and identify practical solutions for improving the management of transhumance across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the National Security Coordinator, Major General Timothy  Ba-Taa-Banah, the Director of Ghana’s National Counter-Terrorism Fusion Centre stressed the need for a preventive and inclusive approach to national security.

He said the complexity of emerging security challenges required cooperation among government institutions, communities, development partners, civil society organisations and other relevant  stakeholders.

“The workshop demonstrates our collective commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s peace, strengthening national resilience and addressing emerging national security challenges through dialogue, partnership and evidence based policymaking,” he said.

The workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to examine existing  initiatives aimed at improving the country’s capacity to monitor and manage transhumance.

Through its Climate Change and Migration Data (CCMD) Programme and the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), IOM has generated data on seasonal mobility patterns using the Transhumance Tracking  Tool.

The information provides insights into  transhumance corridors, pastoral infrastructure and conflict hotspots across northern Ghana.

Such data, stakeholders noted, is critical to strengthening early – warning systems, supporting coordinated responses and enabling national, regional and district authorities to make informed decisions concerning livestock movement and community relations.

The data-driven approach is complemented by interventions under the Coastal States Stability Mechanism, which forms part of broader efforts to promote stability and strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities.

Under the CSSM’s integrated stabilisation work, support has been provided for the development and gazetting of district-level bye-laws regulating livestock movement, land use and dispute resolution in selected districts of the Upper West Region.

The bye-laws are expected to provide locally owned mechanisms for preventing and managing disputes while giving communities clearer frameworks for addressing issues associated with livestock movement, grazing and access to natural resources.

During the workshop, participants reviewed existing regulatory frameworks and identified implementation challenges  that could undermine effective transhumance management.

They also explored practical measures  for improving institutional coordination and ensuring that the experiences and concerns of communities directly affected by transhumance continue to inform national policies.

The discussions highlighted the importance of linking national policy with realities at the community level, particularly in areas where farmers and pastoralists  depend on the same land and water resources.

Chief of Mission, IOM Ghana, Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, underscored the importance of combining reliable data with dialogue  and cooperation in preventing conflict.

She said information and policy interventions would have a limited impact if they were not supported by meaningful  engagement among stakeholders and communities.

“Data alone cannot prevent conflict, and policy alone cannot build peace. But when evidence, dialogue and collaboration come together, they become powerful tools for strengthening resilience and fostering peaceful coexistence,” Ndiaye said.

Participants subsequently reaffirmed  their commitment to a more inclusive and coordinated approach to managing farmer–herder relations.

The approach is expected to involve farmers, herders, livestock owners, traditional authorities, civil society organisations  and government institutions in developing practical and sustainable solutions to challenges associated with transhumance.

Stakeholders also agreed on the importance of sustaining dialogue among communities and institutions, particularly in  areas experiencing recurrent tensions.

As part of the next steps, participants committed to strengthening cross-district and cross- border cooperation, recognising that transhumance frequently extends beyond administrative and national boundaries.

They also called for improved coordination between Regional and District Security Councils through regular information  sharing and joint response mechanisms.

Such mechanisms, they noted, would enhance the ability of authorities to identify potential flashpoints early, facilitate timely intervention and support peaceful resolution of disputes before they escalate  into broader security challenges.

The emphasis on cross-border collaboration also reflects the transnational nature of seasonal livestock mobility, which requires cooperation among authorities and communities across different jurisdictions.

The stakeholders’ renewed commitment comes at a time when climate variability, competition over natural resources and changing patterns of human and livestock mobility are placing additional pressure on traditional systems for managing relations between farming and pastoralist  communities.

The workshop therefore reinforced the need for Ghana to continue investing in early warning, community dialogue, local governance structures and evidence-based policymaking.

With improved coordination among government agencies, traditional authorities, communities, development partners and security institutions, stakeholders believe Ghana can strengthen its capacity to  manage transhumance while protecting livelihoods and preventing avoidable conflicts.

The national engagement ultimately reaffirmed that peaceful farmer–herder relations require more than reactive security measures, with participants advocating sustained dialogue, reliable data, effective local regulations and coordinated responses as essential pillars for promoting peace and resilience in northern Ghana.