PRE-EMPTING ‘JIHADIST’ VIOLENT-EXTREMISM IN GHANA: THE ROLE OF INTRA-FAITH AND INTERRELIGIOUS PEACEBUILDING

Abstract

Contemporary global peacebuilding efforts, be it scholarly discourse or practical engagement, cannot ignore the Islamic perspective or the Muslim factor. This is because it is virtually impossible to engage in any useful discussion on how to preempt, prevent or even resolve global violence today without considering the activities of Islamist militant groups. In effect, it can be stated that the Islamist militant groups have become de facto actors of global violence in our contemporary times. These groups use radicalization as a necessary means to establish extremism in Muslim communities. They use religious images and expressions, sagas, mythology and tales to capture the mind of ignorant Muslims for their violent agenda. Being surrounded by troubled neighbours such as Burkina Faso and Mali who are struggling to fend off Jihadist militants, Ghana cannot take its fragile peace for granted. This paper discusses the need for increase Muslim intra-faith and inter-religious peacebuilding in Ghana in the midst of the ever-increasing global religious radicalization and violent-extremism. The general aim of this paper is to examine the creeping religious tensions in Ghana and how radicalization and violent-extremism which have engulf part of West Africa could escalate to defile the fragile peace being enjoyed by Ghanaians. The paper adopts the theological approach in its analysis. The paper finds among other things that the relationships among Muslim groups in Ghana and between Muslims and Christians are not deep enough to consolidate the religious peace in Ghana. In view of this, the paper recommends among other things that religious groupings in the country should unite in practical terms in order to collectively pre-empt any violence visited on Ghana through religious feuds which could destroy the fragile peace enjoyed in the country.