WHERE WE WORK
Land Rights Defenders International operates globally, with a presence in over five countries, including a strong and growing footprint in Ghana. Our work focuses on supporting communities in defending their land and natural resource rights, while promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
In Ghana, LRDI partners with local leaders, grassroots organizations, and civil society groups to address pressing land issues such as forced evictions, gender inequality in land ownership, and land grabs linked to commercial development. We engage directly with Indigenous communities, smallholder farmers, women, and youth to provide legal aid, facilitate dialogue, and build local capacity for land governance and conflict resolution.
Our Ghana programs also emphasize environmental stewardship, food security, and climate justice—ensuring that land use practices not only protect ecosystems but also improve livelihoods. Through community workshops, policy advocacy, and documentation of land rights abuses, LRDI is helping shape a more just and transparent land system in Ghana.
As Ghana remains a central focus, our broader impact spans countries such as Sierra Leone while we build alliances to expand into Canada, Kenya, Colombia, the Philippines, and Nepal uniting a global network of land defenders working toward a shared vision: land rights as a pathway to equity, peace, and resilience.
Ghana A National Focus, A Community-Driven Approach In Ghana, LRDI works closely with local communities across rural and peri-urban areas. Our initiatives address:
Forced evictions and land grabs
We support communities facing displacement by advocating for their rights, raising awareness, and working to prevent unlawful land seizures through legal and grassroots efforts.
Women’s land rights and ownership equality
We empower women to claim and protect their land rights by promoting gender-inclusive policies, offering legal education, and facilitating access to land documentation.
Sustainable land use and environmental protection
We promote responsible land management practices that preserve biodiversity, improve soil health, and support long-term agricultural and ecological sustainability.
Partnering with Indigenous groups to document ancestral territories
We collaborate with Indigenous communities to map and officially recognize ancestral lands, strengthening their claims and protecting cultural heritage.
Legal support and documentation for vulnerable groups
We provide legal aid, help obtain land titles and documentation, and support marginalized populations—including the elderly, disabled, and displaced—so they can secure their land rights.
Why It Matters
Across all locations, Land Rights Defenders work supports climate resilience, food security, and social justice. By centering local voices and building legal and technical capacity, we create lasting change that is led by the communities themselves.
The Vital Role of Land Rights in Social Justice and Sustainable Development
Land is not just a resource, it’s a foundation for livelihoods, identity, and cultural heritage for millions around the world. Yet, growing authoritarianism, economic exploitation, and industrialization are fueling forced evictions and displacements, stripping vulnerable communities of their land and rights. Unequal systems of land access further marginalize the poor and less educated.
Land Rights Defenders International (LRDI), founded in 2020 and incorporated in 2023, was established to stand against these injustices and protect indigenous and marginalized populations. The organization also supports the global push toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognizing that secure land rights empower communities, foster sustainability, and ensure a more equitable future for all.