Project Summary

Despite Ghana's reputation as a politically stable country, youth violence, including gang-related violence, has been on the rise. Using theories in criminology, the research aims to investigate the dynamics of gang violence in Ghana, focusing on understanding the root causes and nature of this violence. Specifically, this study explores the socioeconomic, cultural, environmental, political, and personal factors driving the formation and perpetuation of gangs and gang violence in Ghana with a particular focus on incidents of gang violence in the Nima and Mamobi neighborhoods of Accra. Employing an innovative sampling method known as the "layers approach," the research ensures comprehensive and efficient data collection from hard-to-reach populations in high-risk areas. The findings will provide valuable insights to inform the development of community-based programs and policies aimed at addressing gang violence in Ghana and beyond.

Bio

Dr. Joyce De-Graft Acquah is a passionate academic, advocate, peacebuilder, and practitioner/trainer of alternative dispute resolution. She has worked, conducted research, and spoken at conferences throughout Africa, Europe, and the United States.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Sociology and a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Ghana. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Peace and Conflict Transformation from the University of Tromsø, Norway, and a Ph.D. in International Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, USA, where she was also appointed an Assistant Professor of Gender Studies immediately following her studies. In 2023, she was an African Guest Researcher Scholar at the Nordic Africa Institute, Sweden.

She is currently a Research Fellow in the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, where she teaches in the Master's and Ph.D. programs in Peace, Security, and Development Studies. Dr. Acquah is also an eminent member of the Central Regional Peace Council.

Before joining academia, Dr. Acquah gained valuable experience in grassroots development and research. She worked as a district facilitator for the USAID-funded Community School Alliances Project, using innovative community mobilization tools to promote good governance and improve primary school enrolment. She has been recognized for her leadership and academic excellence, receiving numerous scholarships, awards, and research grants. These include a Norwegian Government Quota Scholarship, the PEO International Peace Scholarship, USA, grants from the Centre for Environment and Development, Norway, and the Canadian Bureau for International Education. She is also a member of prestigious organizations such as the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Society, USA. In 2004, she was selected after national competition to represent Ghana in the British Council Pan-African Interaction Leadership program for future African leaders, solidifying her status as a youth leader and advocate for development.

Her research interests include conflict analysis, refugee repatriation and integration, peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction with a focus on livelihoods. She is passionate about gender-responsive peacebuilding. As a dedicated professional, she is registered as a neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution in the USA, a member of the Development Studies Association, the Ghana Association of Social Workers, where she previously served on the national executive, the South South migration network, the Gender Violence Survival Support Network, Ghana, and the African Migration, Mobility, and Displacement Initiative.

About Joyce De-Graft Acquah