Land grabs and their effect on women's rights to cultivation in Ghana and Malawi

Abstract

Land is at the heart of everything human beings do. Many communities in African countries rely on subsistent farming as their source of livelihood. Ghana and Malawi have a dual legal system governing land. As such the laws applicable to a certain portion of land are dependent on the system which governs that land, be it civil or customary law. Customary law recognises the importance of women to the household and as such affords them certain rights to the land, such as the right to cultivate on the land of their father, husband or son. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of land grabs on women’s right to cultivate in Ghana and Malawi. With this the various definitions of land grabs were consulted. The different international and regional legal instruments which promote gender equality were consulted. Land grabs have an effect on the men in the respected countries. Since a woman’s right to land is attached to her male relation, it is safe to conclude that land grabs have an effect on the women’s lives. Better regulation of land deals is needed to ensure the minimisation of land grabs.