Contesting Land and Custom in Ghana: State, Chief and the Citizen

African policy on customary land relations has become increasingly problematic in the wake of the growing value of residential and agricultural land; in Ghana, land has been the subject of growing commodification which has led to increased attempts by tribal chiefs, earth priests, land users, and governmental actors to redefine “custom,” land ownership, and tenure. This collection of essays critically examines the relationships between customary and statutory tenure, as well as the institutional interactions between the state and traditional authorities, addressing issues of power, accountability, and equity in a number of case studies, as well as accounts of past and contemporary policy.

Janine M. Ubink is senior lecturer in law and governance in Africa at Leiden University. Kojo S. Amanor is associate professor at the Institute of African Studies at the Universtiy of Ghana.