MIGRATION, ACCULTURATION AND CONSEQUENCES OF WOMEN’S LAND RIGHT PROTECTION ON FAMILY HARMONY

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the case of Upper West Farmers Union (UWFU), a migrant group at Nkwakwaa and Asempanaye Villages in the Offinso Forest District- Ghana, to examine how migration influences indigenous culture. It will ascertain how women’s land right reforms influenced by migration and acculturation undermine indigenous cultural traits. The assumption to guide this study is that, migration has significant influence on women’s attitudes and rights which may be positive when their new location engenders empowerment or negative when it undermines development oriented cultural traits. The objective is to explore the interrelationship between migration, culture and location based on a case study design using qualitative ethnographic techniques. In the case of the UWFU, the study seeks to investigate how acculturation within the host environment has engendered empowerment of women through enhanced livelihood security, and the implications women as land-owners have on indigenous cultural marriages and family harmony.