By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Bolgatanga, May 23, GNA – The Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), a gender-focused organisation, has begun a two-year project in the Nabdam District to improve access to land for widows and other vulnerable groups for farming and livelihood activities.
The project dubbed; “Tindaana Taredoma va’am Ba’are” meaning “Tindana’s Land Trust for the Vulnerable,” is being implemented in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung (RBS), under the “Sustainable Futures: Navigating the Intersection of Land Use, Climate Change and Peacebuilding.”
The project seeks to pilot a land trust system under provisions in Ghana’s Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), to support landless persons, particularly widows, migrants and marginalised groups, to undertake farming activities and live dignified lives.
Speaking at an inception meeting in Bolgatanga, Ms Fati Abigail Abdulai, the Executive Director of WOM, said the initiative was aimed at promoting equitable access to land and reducing conflicts related to land use and ownership in the district.
She explained that the project would be implemented in five communities-Dasabligo, Kotintaabig, Nyogbare, Gane-Asonge and Zanlerigu-in the Nabdam District, and would involve traditional leaders, Tindanas (landowners), Assembly Members, state institutions and community members.
“The whole idea is that communities will have lands that they put aside for landless people in the community, and we are hoping that there will be a quota for widows who usually struggle to access land,” she said.
Ms Abdulai noted that although the Land Act contained provisions that promoted women’s access to and control over land, implementation and awareness remained low, especially in rural communities.
She said the customary land tenure system in many communities largely favoured men, making it difficult for women to inherit or own land independently.
“Most women access land through their husbands or male relatives, and when the husband dies, the land often reverts to the family head, leaving the widow dispossessed,” she explained.
According to her, increasing climate change impacts, deforestation, mining activities and food insecurity in the Nabdam District had worsened the plight of poor and vulnerable groups, especially women.
She indicated that beyond improving land access, the project would promote feminist agroecology and agroforestry practices to improve soil health, food security and climate resilience.
As part of the intervention, indigenous tree species would be nursed locally and integrated with crops and livestock to create sustainable farming systems.
“We are going to use our indigenous trees because they are already adapted to the climate, and we want to integrate crops, trees and animals to build a healthy ecosystem,” Ms Abdulai said.
She said the project would also train about 100 youth in five communities on conflict prevention, conflict resolution and land management to help reduce disputes over land use.
Mr Severin Asobayeri, Lands Officer, Upper East Regional Lands Commission, described the project as timely and important, noting that access to land remained a major challenge for women and vulnerable persons.
Mr Asobayeri explained that the Land Act provided for equal ownership of property acquired during marriage and recognised the rights of land users to compensation in cases where land was acquired for development projects.
He, however, stressed the need for increased public education and sensitisation to ensure people understood their rights and responsibilities under the law.
Ms Salomey Tonka, the Head of Operations at the Upper East Regional Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, also commended the initiative and highlighted the need for proper documentation of land transactions through customary land secretariats.
She observed that land ownership disputes, poor record keeping and conflicts among traditional authorities over land administration remained major challenges in the region.
Naab Bileehsong La’anwont Namong, the Chief of Kotintaabig, commended the initiative and pledged his support to ensure the success of the project.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
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