The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Land Rights Advocacy in Ghana: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The limited and fragmented understanding of civil society’s role in land rights advocacy, particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa, remained a major challenge in existing scholarship. Using Ghana as a focal case, this paper examined the strategies, roles, and influence of civil society organizations (CSOs) in advocating for land rights, as well as the challenges and enabling conditions that affected their effectiveness. The study employed a systematic review methodology and synthesized 65 qualitative and quantitative studies on civil society engagement with land governance and rights. Findings revealed that CSOs played a critical role in promoting equitable land governance through legal literacy, community mobilization, and policy advocacy for progressive land reforms. However, their efforts were constrained by factors such as state complicity, limited resources, and entrenched power dynamics. The paper recommended strengthening collaboration among CSOs, enhancing community engagement, and advancing policy reforms that recognized customary land rights. It concluded that while civil society possessed transformative potential in land governance, sustained commitment and strategic approaches were essential to overcoming structural barriers and securing land tenure for marginalized populations.