Tenure responsive land use planning in Ghana: evidence from peri-urban Tamale

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due partly to rapid urbanisation and the re-interpretation of customary land tenure, land use planning in Ghana is sometimes associated with tenure insecurities in peri-urban areas. Contributing to the emerging debate on Tenure Responsive Land Use Planning (TR-LUP), this paper assesses the tenure responsiveness of land use planning projects in peri-urban Tamale based on data gathered from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders. It is argued that the current tenure insecurity challenges that characterised land use planning projects in peri-urban Ghana emanate primarily from limited stakeholder participation, land commodification, re-interpretation of customary land tenure, and weak institutional capacities of local planning agencies. The paper adds insights to the challenges surrounding the applicability of the TR-LUP concept by highlighting how land use planning influences tenure security in customary land tenure contexts. Finally, it proposes policy measures to protect the land use rights of peri-urban dwellers.