The Bawku crisis, often perceived as a distant issue, poses immediate threats to livestock and crop farming, jeopardizing the livelihoods of farmers in the region and food prices in the country. The ongoing conflict between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities in Bawku in the Upper East region has created an atmosphere of fear, preventing farmers from tending to their animals and crops effectively. This situation has resulted in a looming crisis that could lead to significant shortages of livestock and agricultural produce.
Food prices surged this year due to shortfall in production, reflecting in food items constantly dominating the list of top 20 items with the highest rate of inflation.
Dr. Issah Sugri Sari, a research scientist at the Savannah Research Institute (SARI) in an interview with The High Street Journal emphasized the crippling effect of the Kusasi-Mamprusi conflict on agricultural activities in the area. For many families in the Upper East and Upper West regions, farming is their primary source of sustenance and income. During the wet season, farmers cultivate essential staples such as maize, millet, sorghum, and groundnuts, along with vegetables like okra, onions, and peppers. In contrast, the dry season relies on crops such as tomatoes, onions, and leafy greens like cabbage and lettuce.
However, the ongoing hostilities have deterred both Kusasi and Mamprusi farmers from working their fields, putting food supplies in serious jeopardy. The conflict also poses a grave threat to livestock farming, as many households in these communities raise cattle, sheep, and goats—key sources of income, especially during festive periods like Eid and Christmas. The disruption to daily life has limited livestock care and made feed access increasingly difficult. “If people lack enough food themselves, feeding animals becomes nearly impossible,” Dr. Sari noted, highlighting the severe implications for both livestock and income in the region.
Additionally, market closures, the suspension of banking and credit services, and the halt of agricultural extension services further hinder recovery efforts. These disruptions prevent the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities from accessing essential resources, disrupting local trade, and depriving farmers of extension services and tools to maintain their operations. The ongoing conflict not only jeopardizes current livelihoods but also threatens the future prospects of young people, who are increasingly losing access to education and job opportunities.
Dr. Sari warned that without immediate intervention, the combination of the northern drought and the Kusasi-Mamprusi tensions is likely to create a food security crisis in the area. The region is at risk of long-term economic instability and a critical decline in food production, emphasizing the urgent need for effective solutions to address both the conflict and its far-reaching consequences.
