Abstract

Recent decades have witnessed unprecedented agrarian transformations and mining sector-led development projects in the countryside of the Global South. This study explores the impact of land appropriation for gold mining on customary land tenure systems and rural livelihoods in Ghana. Data were gathered through face-to-face semi-structured and structured interviews with 120 affected farmers, key informant interviews (seven participants), and three focus group discussions (28 participants). The findings show a growing tendency of customary authorities being coopted into the wider assemblages of economic and political actors who are benefiting from the land appropriation by the state and mining companies. As a result, customary authorities have become facilitators and the manu longa of the state. The study demonstrates how gold mining companies have exploited centuries-old traditional land allocation and governance practices to suppress reactions from below and how this has led to increased social differentiation and social tension in northern Ghana. In conclusion, land expropriation for gold mining has resulted in a transformation in the Ghanaian customary land tenure system, producing a marked shift from agrarian to non-agrarian livelihoods, increasing household food insecurity and societal tension, and creating a new class of (near-)landless farmers in the rural communities.

摘要

近几十年来，全球南方农村见证了前所未有的农业转型和采矿业主导的发展项目。本研究探讨了用于金矿开采的土地征用对加纳传统土地所有权制度和农村生计的影响。通过对 120 名受影响农民的面对面半结构化和结构化访谈、关键知情人访谈（7 名参与者）和三个焦点小组讨论（28 名参与者）收集数据。调查结果显示，习惯当局越来越倾向于被纳入更广泛的经济和政治行为者群体，这些行为者从国家和矿业公司的土地征用中受益。结果，习惯当局已成为促进者和manu longa的状态。该研究展示了金矿公司如何利用具有数百年历史的传统土地分配和治理实践来抑制来自下层的反应，以及这如何导致加纳北部的社会分化和社会紧张局势加剧。总而言之，为开采金矿而征用土地导致加纳传统土地保有权制度发生转变，导致从农业生计向非农业生计的显着转变，加剧了家庭粮食不安全和社会紧张局势，并创造了一个新的（近) 农村社区的失地农民。