Strategies To Prevent Home-Grown Terrorism In Ghana
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Date
2018-05
Authors
Mohammed, Zulkarnain
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, home-grown terrorism (HGT)
emerged with significant threat to all nations across Europe, America, Asia and
Africa. In recent years, HGT has caused the death of many people and is gravely
threatening humanity across the world, affecting human security, well-being and
peaceful state of many individuals living in both developed and developing nations.
Therefore, this study explored the nature of HGT in Ghana by assessing the
strategies used by state and non-state actors to counter it by adopting the Human
Security frameworks to understand the strategies adopted by Ghana to prevent HGT
in an unstable West African region, where countries like: Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso,
Niger, Mali and Nigeria, have all suffered from HGT. The study used in-depth
interview to elicit qualitative data from three state security agencies and ten Islamic
religious leaders (Imams) from Ghana’s ten regions. The findings from state actors
revealed that: Ghanaian ISIS returnees are the sole threat that can cause HGT in
Ghana. Non-state actors believed that, ISIS power of recruiting Ghanaian youth,
religious radicalization, high youth unemployment and the regional instability are the
threats of HGT in Ghana. State actors were able to thwart HGT in Ghana with: good
governance, monitoring Islamic preaching, public education, increased international
cooperation, establishing rehabilitation centers, creating stillness operation and
monitoring financial activities by individuals and corporations. Ghanaian non-state
actors’ approach in countering HGT was different: They adopted new methods of
preaching, engaged the youth in their various activities and preached against HGT.
The study concluded that, the move to prevent HGT in Ghana by state and non-state
actors is a timely and significant counter-terrorism strategy. Finally, the study
recommends that, the state should put in place a nationwide program to fight HGT.
The policy document of such program should comprise supervision of religious
process of radicalization by a government agency or commission.
Description
Keywords
Strategies to prevent home-grown , terrorism in ghana