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The Global Land Rush and Agricultural Investment in Ghana: Existing Knowledge, Gaps, and Future Directions

Author

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  • John Anku

    (Department of International Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada)

  • Nathan Andrews

    (Department of Political Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada)

  • Logan Cochrane

    (College of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha 34110, Qatar
    Institute of Policy and Development Research, Hawassa University, Hawassa 05, SNNPR, Ethiopia)

Abstract

The large-scale acquisition of land by investors intensified following the 2007/2008 triple crises of food, energy, and finance. In the years that followed, tens of millions of hectares of land were leased or sold for agricultural investment. This phenomenon has resulted in a growing body of scholarship that seeks to explain trends, institutional regimes, impacts, and the variety of actors involved, among other subtopics, such as impacts on food security and livelihoods. Focusing on the case study of Ghana, this paper presents a review that uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to critically assess the state of large-scale land acquisitions for agricultural development in Ghana. Our objective in this review is to provide an overview of what we know about such acquisitions in Ghana while pointing to gaps and directions for future research. Contrary to the perception of large-scale land acquisitions being undertaken by foreign investors, the review shows there is a significant role of Ghanaian investors. Additionally, we found the negative impact of these acquisitions, specifically biofuel projects, which featured predominantly in the literature captured in this study. In addition, the role of traditional authorities (chiefs) was a central focus of studies dedicated to land acquisitions in Ghana. Areas that are either understudied or missing from the literature include conflicts, climate change, biodiversity, corporate social responsibility, gendered social differentiation, ethnicity, and the role of diaspora. These gaps call for future research that examines the land question from a multidimensional and multidisciplinary perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • John Anku & Nathan Andrews & Logan Cochrane, 2022. "The Global Land Rush and Agricultural Investment in Ghana: Existing Knowledge, Gaps, and Future Directions," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2022:i:1:p:132-:d:1021503
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    References listed on IDEAS

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