Ghana closer to terrorism threat than ever before – WACCE
The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) has warned that Ghana faces a growing terrorism threat as extremist violence spreads across the Sahel and closer to the country’s borders. The Centre says Ghana’s geographical proximity to countries experiencing increasing extremist attacks, coupled with internal socioeconomic challenges, could make the country more vulnerable to violent…
The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) has raised concerns that Ghana is now closer to the threat of terrorism than ever before due to increasing extremist attacks in the Sahel region, particularly Burkina Faso. Speaking at a 9/11 Memorial Dialogue in Accra, WACCE Executive Director Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar highlighted that Ghana's geographical closeness to countries experiencing growing terrorist activity has heightened its vulnerability.
He noted that prior to 2014, Burkina Faso was considered a distant threat, but the situation has changed dramatically, with attacks now occurring closer to Ghana's borders.
Mr. Muqthar pointed out that internal issues such as unemployment, economic insecurity, prolonged conflicts, chieftaincy disputes, and ethnic tensions within Ghana also pose significant vulnerabilities that extremist groups could exploit. These factors, combined with the external threat, make Ghana more susceptible to violent extremism than ever before.
The Centre emphasized the need for addressing socioeconomic vulnerabilities, especially among the youth, to build resilience and prevent extremist recruitment. WACCE is urging the government to invest more in youth empowerment and strengthen community-based approaches to counter violent extremism.
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- Ghana closer to terrorism threat than ever before – WACCE myjoyonline.com
