Terrorism in West Africa: the case of Ghana.
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Date
2019-06
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KNUST
Abstract
Terrorism has become the greatest security challenge to the International Community especially in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States of America. There has indeed been rapid spread of terrorist activities in most parts of the globe, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel territories, where groups such AQIM and JNIM have carried out sophisticated and well-coordinated attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire. Although
Ghana has not experienced any terrorist attack over the past three decades, credible intelligence from the National Security indicates that the country is under threat. Drawing on literature and primary data obtained from security experts and analysts, the study investigated the factors that account for the country’s possible vulnerability to terrorism. The results revealed that poverty, corruption, youth unemployment, porous borders, political vigilantism and the proliferation of violent extremism in the neighboring states are the reason why the country is at risk. At the same time, the study also discovered that democratic governance, relative food security, freedom of religion as well as media freedom are factors that have prevented the outbreak of terrorism in the country so far. The study suggested measures to: minimize the endemic corruption especially among the police and immigration services; deal with the massive youth unemployment; enhance the management of the country’s borders; and deepen the country’s democratic culture, so as to reduce the threats and prevent the outbreak of terrorism in the country.
Description
A Thesis Submitted To In Partial Fulfilment Of The Requirement For The Award Of Master Of Philosophy Degree In Political Science.