CHIEFTAINCY CONFLICTS IN BIMBILLA: EXAMINING THE EFFECTS ON PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD

Abstract

There are increasing concerns about the negative effects of violent conflict particularly chieftaincy conflict on the livelihood of people. Hence, this study sought to explore the chieftaincy conflicts in Bimbilla: Examining the effects on people's livelihood. The specific objectives of the study were; to examine the effects of the chieftaincy conflicts in Bimbilla on food crop production, to understand how the chieftaincy conflicts affects livestock rearing of the people and to find out the implications of the Bimbilla chieftaincy conflicts on commerce. The researcher did a review of literature in the area of conflicts. The review of related literature focused mainly on concepts and conceptual framework as well as other works relevant to this research. The study covered 292 respondents selected through multi-stage sampling procedure comprising quota, accidental and purposive sampling techniques. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative (Mixed method) research design. Semi-structured questionnaires and interviews were used for the purpose of collecting primary data for this research. Also, both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data analysis were used in analyzing the data collected. The main finding was that, the dominant economic activity in Bimbilla is food crop farming (54.1 %) and equally the worse affected (54.5%) by the chieftaincy conflicts. The study concludes that the chieftaincy conflicts have contributed mainly to the reduction in food crop production through the killing of farmers, destruction of farms, and reduction in man-hours in farms among others leading to fallen income levels in Bimbilla. The study recommends that since the people in Bimbilla are predominantly farmers, it calls for the provision of farmers with farm inputs to enhanced food crop production in the area. This will create employment as well as enhance relationship among the people in the community.