Cattle violence: the politics and fantasies of cattle ranching in Ghana

Emerging agro-pastoral policy initiatives aim to mediate farmer–herder conflicts by implementing a ranching policy. The government of Ghana constructed a 272 ha ranch at Wawase. Initially, there was little local opposition, allowing the ranch to be established and to experience a large growth in cattle population. However, the ranch began to experience difficulties. This paper explores why the government’s ranching intervention has not worked, by focusing on how it is being implemented in practice, and the nature of the conflict it generates. The article shows how the development of the ranch manifested as part of the political regime of the New Patriotic Party; the process enhanced the party’s political legitimacy but did not provide pastoralists with enough forage and security. Practices on the ranch have created a new layer of conflicts between cattle owners and ranch management. The article illuminates the practical issues surrounding the establishment of cattle ranches.