Conflicts are multi causal and remain an inevitable part of human existence, and Africa like other parts of the world has had to grapple with the phenomenon. The Northern Region of Ghana has over... Show moreConflicts are multi causal and remain an inevitable part of human existence, and Africa like other parts of the world has had to grapple with the phenomenon. The Northern Region of Ghana has over the years been a hotbed of conflicts as several communities have gained notoriety for frequent violent disturbances. Though the “North” is not the only place of simmering tensions and conflicts since colonial times, the violent nature and intractability of some conflicts which often make the headlines for obviously “bad” reasons leaves much to be desired This paper examines Northern Ghana’s intractable conflicts many of which have partisan and political undertones, and have served as fodder to exacerbate; chieftaincy succession conflicts, land and boundary disputes, and others that may arise from competing group interests. More importantly, some of these disputes may directly be as a result of struggle for political power or domination. Whilst relying on textual or content analysis of conflicts in Ghana and Africa the author also makes use of, interviews, personal observation and experiences gained from the area under discussion. Resource persons and researchers, some from these conflict areas offered great insight for this write-up. Show less
Paper presented at the 34th annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, section: Anthropological contributions to the study of migration, Amsterdam, 19-22 March 1975 Abridged abstract:... Show morePaper presented at the 34th annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, section: Anthropological contributions to the study of migration, Amsterdam, 19-22 March 1975 Abridged abstract: Antagonism between older and younger men constitutes a striking feature of a rural community in post-independent Zambia. In the local political processes surrounding the 1973 Zambia general elections, a small group of young men organised themselves within a framework suggested by national party politics, and attempted (with unexpected support from the elders) to construct a youth-centred social order which could dissolve the intergenerational struggle while presenting a blue-print for rural reconstruction. The present paper attempts to interpret these data, in particular as the outcome of a process of social change shaped mainly by labour migration. It examines the pre-colonial career model, changes in rural leadership under colonial rule, the emergence of an urban career model, the changing status of rural youth, ideological change in the colonial era, and the post-independent situation Show less
