Stakeholders from Ghana and Burkina Faso have highlighted the economic opportunities within cross-border livestock movement, urging stronger cooperation to transform transhumance into a driver of trade, social cohesion, and rural development.
The call was made during a cross-border dialogue held in Bolgatanga under the theme “Promoting peaceful coexistence and sustainable cross-border collaborative management of natural resources.” The meeting brought together government officials, security agencies, farmers, herders, community leaders, and civil society organisations from both countries.
Participants noted that when properly managed, transhumance—the seasonal movement of livestock across borders in search of pasture and water—could significantly strengthen the livestock value chain by supporting livestock markets, veterinary services, transportation, and processing industries.
The dialogue was organised under the DINADANE Project, which seeks to promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders while improving the management of shared natural resources in border communities.
Implemented by Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships (CLIP) in Ghana and Réseau Communication sur le Pastoralisme (RCOPA) in Burkina Faso, the project is supported by the PATRIP Foundation and Help.
In Ghana, the three-year initiative, which began in 2023, covers six districts: Bongo, Kassena-Nankana Municipal and Kassena-Nankana West in the Upper East Region, and Sissala East Municipal, Sissala West, and Lambussie in the Upper West Region.
Mr Iddi Musah, Assistant Director at the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council and Schedule Officer for the project, said cross-border livestock movement was inevitable due to climate variability and the constant search for pasture and water.
“Whether we like it or not, transhumance will continue to exist,” he said, stressing the need for structured management systems instead of resistance.
He explained that the DINADANE project had facilitated the development of livestock corridors, water points, and veterinary services to regulate animal movement, reduce tensions between farmers and herders, and improve animal health.
The initiative has also supported the creation and strengthening of cattle markets in participating districts, boosting livestock trade and increasing internally generated revenue for district assemblies through market tolls and related levies.
Mr Musah, however, emphasised the need for clear legal frameworks to regulate transhumance activities in Ghana and sustain the gains made by the project.
“When issues arise, we often rely on dialogue. But where matters are criminal in nature, dialogue alone is not sufficient. We need specific laws that we can refer to in addressing such issues,” he said.
Mr Kam Aristide Mohamed, Chief Executive of Nahouri Province in Burkina Faso, also called for stronger collaboration between the two countries to maximise the economic benefits of livestock trade across their shared borders.
Mr Alhassan Mohammed Sayibu, Technical Advisor on Agropastoralism at CLIP, noted that the project had created dialogue platforms at community and district levels, encouraging herders to participate in decision-making processes within host communities.
“In the past, herders rarely participated in community meetings. Today, they freely engage in discussions and even take part in local decision-making,” he said.
He explained that climate change had disrupted traditional migration patterns, making coordinated cross-border policies essential for managing livestock mobility.
Ms Sonda Beore, Officer in charge of Social Cohesion at RCOPA in Burkina Faso, added that the project had established cross-border consultation frameworks, negotiated areas for pastoral infrastructure, and developed early warning systems to prevent farmer-herder conflicts.
