NATURE OF HOME-GROWN TERRORISM THREAT IN GHANA

Abstract

The present state of security in the West African sub-region raises important issues of the nature of home-grown terrorism (HGT) threats in Ghana. Most studies of homegrown terrorism have focused mainly on the psychological implications of terrorist acts. This paper examines the complexities of the Ghanaian state securities perceive the nature of the threat of home-grown terrorism in the country. Data was collected from representatives of the state security agencies using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Findings indicate that the threat nature of home-grown terrorism in Ghana varies but the most significant is the threat from the recruitment of Ghanaian Muslims by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The finding helps to gain a better understanding of the difficulty of living under constant home-grown terrorism threats. It also provides an understanding of how citizens cope with and adjust to such threats.