Political Vigilante Violence as a Weapon of Empowerment Among Socially Excluded Ghanaian Youth

Abstract

This chapter aims to draw the connection between social exclusion, disenchantment, and political vigilante violence in Ghana. The chapter frames political vigilante violence as an alternative weapon of empowerment for deprived and disenchanted Ghanaian youth. It argues that in the face of the post-independent Ghanaian state's inability to attend to the needs of the increasing youthful population leading to patterns of marginalization, many of the youth align themselves with political parties as a form of social, economic, and other existential security. Drawing on the experiences of the young population of Agbogbloshie, a slum area of Ghana's capital city, as a focal point, the chapter presents political vigilante violence as a function of social exclusion and presents an analysis of the ways in which disenchanted Ghanaian youth deploy violence as a channel to gain a voice and recognition in the public arena.