Report by Kwabena Adu Koranteng
A surge in tribal conflicts in the northern parts of Ghana is pushing the country toward a prolonged food and farming crisis. Communities already struggling under the weight of climate change and erratic rainfall are now facing widespread displacement and destruction of farmlands.
In Bawku, Upper East Region, renewed violence between the Mamprusis and Kusasis has escalated this year, leaving more than 300 people dead and forcing thousands of families, including farmers, to flee their homes. The conflict, which has persisted for decades, is now spilling over into surrounding communities, aggravating tensions and deepening humanitarian challenges.
Similarly, fresh clashes between the Gonjas and rival groups in the Bole-Bamboi area have left over 40 people dead in recent weeks. Villages have been deserted, with farms abandoned as residents flee for safety. Security sources say sporadic gun battles and arson attacks are destroying entire farming communities, worsening food insecurity in the region.
The situation is compounded by harsh weather patterns triggered by climate change. Long dry spells, unpredictable rainfall, and floods have already reduced yields in staple crops such as maize, sorghum, and millet. With farmers fleeing conflict zones and farmlands lying in ruin, Ghana faces a sharp decline in domestic food production.
Experts warn that the country could soon become heavily dependent on imported food supplies to fill the gap. This reliance, at a time when global food prices are already high, could cause steep increases in food costs across Ghana, further straining household incomes and pushing millions into vulnerability.
Civil society groups and agricultural experts are calling for urgent government intervention — including peacebuilding efforts in conflict zones, climate-resilient farming policies, and emergency food security programs — to avert what could become one of Ghana’s most severe food crises in recent history.
