The killing of eight Ghanaian traders in a jihadist attack in neighbouring Burkina Faso should prompt Ghana to confront deep-seated internal vulnerabilities — not just tighten border controls — according to counter-extremism specialist Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (18 February), the former West Africa director of the Centre for Counter Extremism said Ghana’s exposure to violent extremism is shaped as much by domestic structural weaknesses as by cross-border threats from the Sahel.
“Many people think the threat is mainly external, so the response focuses on borders,” he said. “But if you look inward, you will discover significant internal structural factors that constitute Ghana’s vulnerabilities.”
Muqthar cited unresolved ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts, youth unemployment, marginalisation and weak state presence in remote communities as risk multipliers that extremist groups exploit for recruitment and logistics.
According to him, areas already experiencing prolonged local conflicts are particularly susceptible. He referenced global research showing that most terrorism-related fatalities occur in places with pre-existing instability.
“When people live in environments of prolonged conflict, they become more susceptible to violence or to embracing extremist ideas,” he noted.
He warned that extremist organisations deliberately target frustrated and economically vulnerable youth, offering belonging, income or purpose.
Muqthar also pointed to governance deficits — including poor infrastructure, weak communication networks and limited public services in parts of northern Ghana — as conditions that reduce trust in the state and create openings for radicalisation.
He urged authorities to combine security measures with social and economic interventions, arguing that counter-extremism efforts must address root causes, not only symptoms.
“We have never been this close to radicalisation risks,” he said. “It’s important that we take these internal factors seriously.”
Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand
