Abstract: Literature on communal work is very limited in Ghana, although the practice is found among many diverse cultures across the ten (10) regions of Ghana. This study takes up the challenge of presenting a short overview of the concept of communal labor from pre-colonial to post independent Ghana. The study is set to reveal indigenous institutions of communal labor and address the factors that have influenced the practice in each phase of Ghana´s development. Overall, the study is designed to enhance knowledge and understanding of the practice of communal labor in Ghana.