This research examines spatial patterns of land use change and the changing political relations of control, access and loss of land in Tamale and its agrarian hinterlands. It uses the Von Thünen's model of concentric rings and regional political economy to identity economic activities around the city and its hinterland. It argues that agricultural land is facing different pressures which are leading to the commodification of land by chiefs who claim it is their customary rights to sell land without recourse to the subjects and other land users. And these increasing commodification and changes in land use are creating tensions among different land users which can result in violent conflicts.