Influence of customary land disputes on socio-economic development in Ashanti-Mampong

Abstract

Customary land disputes date back as far as the colonial era in Ghana. Customary land disputes have contributed negatively to socio-economic development of Ghana. It is in the light of this that the study looked at the state and nature of customary land disputes in Ghana using Ashanti-Mampong as a case study. The research used both primary and secondary data to find answers to the causes of land disputes, effects of land disputes and measures that are used to resolve these land disputes. Respondents for the study included, Land owners, traditional authorities, government officials such as those working in the magistrate court, town and country planning department and municipal assembly. Snowball and purposive sampling methods were used to select respondents and questionnaires were the instruments used for data collection. It was found out that multiple sale of land and boundary disputes due to no settlement layouts were the reasons for the problems which have caused customary land disputes in the municipality. Social networks had broken down and some development projects were suspended as a result of customary land conflicts in Ashanti-Mampong Municipality. Some of the effects of land disputes were found to be delay in development, reduction in gainful employment and breakdown in family ties. It was suggested that preparation of settlement layouts would help solve most of the customary land disputes. The committees at the various communities in charge of plot allocation should be resourced for capacity building. Also, there should be the enactment and enforcement of customary lands bye-laws in the Mampong Municipality.