Many young people in Ghana are frustrated and unemployed. The terrorist group “Islamic state” wants to benefit from it, and tried, among them new fighters to recruit. A local NGO maintains, however, with the success.
“Since my graduation three years had passed and I had found neither a Job nor the money to go to University,” says the 21-year-old Ghanaians in the interview-and lowers the head. For the protection of his identity he wants to be only called amine. “Then this Stranger started to chat with me on Facebook and me millions of dollars promised, if I work for him. How could I refuse this offer?”
He is just one of the millions of young Africans who are attracted by campaigners of the so-called “Islamic state” (IS) with perfidious promises. Already, the Islamists no longer focus only on young people from the Middle East. Over the Internet you will have to recruit in Africa new fighters.
‘Probably I would be dead by now’
Young people in Ghana are an easy target. According to the world Bank’s 11.5 per cent of 15 to 24 are unemployed. Especially in Ghana’s North, young people are the promise of prone to the IS. More than 60 percent of the population are Muslims. At the same time, the Region is dirt poor. Here, there are no ports, and no fishing industry in the South. Also international companies are hardly ever established. More than 60 percent of the population in Northern Ghana are Muslims. The frustration sits with the young people deeply, especially in the case of those who, in spite of the Abitur and a University degree, no Job.
Including only young people are not. “The prodaganda videos of the Islamic States and Al-Qaeda from practicing on many people a great charm, not only to young people,” says the security expert, Kwesi Anning of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, the DW. Vulnerable, especially people who feel excluded from the economic development and the democratic process in the country, Anning.
Especially in Ghana’s poor Northern youth unemployment is high
People like Amin. He comes from the Sissala district in the North-West of Ghana, located only a few kilometers from the border with Burkina Faso. He believed the promise, to him the Stranger on Facebook. “I’ve been preparing for it on my trip to Burkina Faso. The Stranger wanted to pick me up there.” But then he saw in the Breakfast TV a report about the radicalisation of young Ghanaians. “I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t seen this show. I probably would be dead by now.”
Behind the awareness campaign non-governmental organization, the West African Center for Counter-Extremism (WACCE). It has its seat in the capital, Accra. From here, the employees plan their fight against violent extremism and the radicalisation of young people. WACCE not only through campaigns in Ghana’s television, Radio and the social networks. The Organization
organises regular Workshops with young Muslims from the poorest regions of Ghana. It is all about the machinations of the Islamic state to educate.
Success through education
In WACCE amine found help. 22 young people such as him was able to free the organization in the last two years successfully from the Clutches of the Islamic state. The work was not always easy, says WACCE Director Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar in the DW-Interview. “We work closely with youth groups and community leaders. Together, we are trying to create a public dialogue. In addition, we want to minimize the factors that drive them into radicalisation.” Especially the cooperation with imams, the atrocities and the empty Promise of the terror group also asked in its Friday issue, plays a big role. Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar, and his colleagues are also looking for increased dialogue with the Ghanaian government. So you want to move the government, many of the inactive programs to combat youth unemployment and develop.
Murtaru Mumuni Muqthar explains to the Ghanaian youth about the dangers of radicalisation
“What this organization is doing is unique,” says security expert Kwesi Anning of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. “You don’t educate the young people not only about the fact that all these promises of Paradise and a better life are pointless, but the Victims and also the frustrated young people a voice. This is really remarkable.” Anning is a consultant of WACCE.
Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar is confident that WACCE can expand its network in the coming years. His organization wants to continue to be also in the neighboring countries. Above all, it has Nigeria, where the Islamist terrorist militia Boko Haram recruited to successfully young people for their fights.