Looming crisis – changing climatic conditions in Ghana’s breadbasket: the experiences of agrarian migrants

This form of migration has been described as an adaptation strategy to deal with livelihood stresses.

“This form of migration has been described as an adaptation strategy to deal with livelihood stresses (Azumah and Ahmed, 2023 [5]; Baada et al., 2021 [6]; Ibrahim and Mensah, 2022 [15]).”

Declining environmental resources in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana have heightened competition between migrants and non-migrants for the few available resources, especially fertile lands.

“Similarly, Baada et al. (2021) [6] discovered that declining environmental resources in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana have heightened competition between migrants and non-migrants for the few available resources, especially fertile lands.”

Competition between migrants and non-migrants in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana sparked conflicts and exposed migrants to economic exploitation by landlords who rent land at exorbitant prices compared to non-migrant farmers.

“This sparked conflicts between the two groups and exposed migrants to economic exploitation by landlords who rent land to them at exorbitant prices, compared to non-migrant farmers.”

Research on climate-related migration in Africa has expanded significantly over the years.

“Research on climate-related migration in Africa has expanded significantly over the years (see Azumah and Ahmed, 2023 [5]; Baada et al., 2021 [6]; Hermans and Garbe, 2019 [8]; Nawrotzki and DeWaard, 2018 [9]; Simatele and Simatele, 2015 [10]).”

Climate change threats are already manifesting in different African countries, negatively affecting lives and livelihoods that are natural resource dependent, such as agriculture and fisheries.

“Climate change threats are already manifesting in different African countries, negatively affecting lives and livelihoods that are natural resource dependent (e.g., agriculture, fisheries) (Azumah and Ahmed, 2023 [5]; Baada et al., 2021 [6]; Nguyen and Sean, 2021 [7]).”

The poorest are especially vulnerable to the economic and environmental stresses of climate change.

“The poorest are especially vulnerable to the economic and environmental stresses of climate change.”

Among already vulnerable rural agrarian populations who escaped worsening environmental circumstances in the Upper-West Region, Ghana, livelihoods are more susceptible to climate change, as poor climatic conditions play the dual role of a push factor in the sending context and a major challenge at the destination area.

“Baada et al. (2021) [6] demonstrate that among the already vulnerable rural agrarian populations who have escaped worsening environmental circumstances in the Upper-West Region (UWR), Ghana, their livelihoods are more susceptible to climate change, as poor climatic conditions play the dual role of a push factor in sending context and a major challenge at destination area.”

Vulnerable populations have limited adaptive capacities due to their already marginalised status and policy neglect.

“Yet, these vulnerable populations have limited adaptive capacities due to their already marginalised status and policy neglect (Baada et al., 2021 [6]).”