To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Continental Land Grabbing Conference—an initiative launched by AFJN in partnership with African and European allies—we have commissioned a documentary showcasing our work in Ghana, where AFJN actively implemented the Conference’s resolutions. The film is set to premiere in late November and will highlight the grassroots efforts, community mobilization, and policy engagement that have shaped our mission over the past decade.
Earlier this year, AFJN conducted a field visit to seven communities across the Volta and Oti regions, organizing town hall meetings to raise awareness and strengthen local resistance to land grabbing. These gatherings provided a platform for dialogue, education, and strategic planning, focusing on responsible investment alternatives, community resilience, and the evaluation of past interventions. In Anfoe, located in Adaklu district, AFJN documented two major failed land grabbing attempts. A local lawyer—himself a son of the community—played a pivotal role in halting these efforts after speaking at our town hall, demonstrating the power of informed local leadership.
In Avevi, located in Akatsi North district, a community particularly vulnerable due to its vast lands and limited infrastructure, AFJN convened a landmark meeting that brought together 100 chiefs from over 30 communities. The event was notable for its strong youth and female participation, with women making up half the attendees. The success of this gathering sparked interest from neighboring communities, who requested similar workshops within two months—underscoring both the urgency and relevance of the initiative.
To amplify the impact, AFJN launched a media campaign rebroadcasting key messages across 10 radio stations in the Volta and Oti regions. Based on the 2021 census, the estimated reach ranges from to 3.18 million individuals. Due to overlapping broadcast areas, the unique audience is likely between 1.5 and 2 million. Victory FM (Aflao) and Denyigba Radio (Dzodze) lead in local reach with up to 335,000 listeners each, while Oti Radio (Dambai) dominates its region with potential access to over half a million people. Ho FM and ANA FM provide strong coverage along the Ho–Asuogyaman corridor, ensuring broad regional engagement.
This multi-pronged approach—combining community engagement, legal advocacy, and mass media—continues to build momentum in the fight against predatory land investment and affirms AFJN’s commitment to justice and sustainable development across Africa.
Advocacy in the US/ DRC
On October 6th, in partnership with Africa New Day, the Africa Faith and Justice Network planned a discussion at the Rayburn House of Representatives on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on the persecution of Christians by the ADF, an ISIS-affiliated group in North Kivu. Due to the U.S. government shutdown, the event was moved online.
We continue to engage weekly with the Congolese diaspora and our Washington, D.C. networks—including Advocacy Network for Africa (AdNA), Catholic organizations at the United Nations in New York and the Catholic Task Force for Africa—to coordinate advocacy and education efforts. Our focus remains on good governance, accountability for victims and recognition of the Congo genocide as a foundation for lasting peace.