Ghana

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Ghana

Ghana became a GCERF partner country in 2023. GCERF has invested USD 3 million supporting 11 civil society organisations to strengthen the resilience of communities at-risk of radicalisation. 

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  • Bolgatanga
  • Damango
  • Nalerigu
  • Tamale
  • Wa
Background and Context
Country Snapshot
Key Results
Investment Strategy
Background & Context

Understanding Violent
 Extremism in Ghana

Ghana’s northern regions face growing vulnerabilities to violent extremism (VE), despite the country’s overall stability. Both internal and external factors contribute to this risk, particularly the expansion of extremist groups across the Sahel region, with neighboring Burkina Faso significantly heightening the threat. Burkina Faso, which ranked 1st on the Global Terrorism Index in 2025, shares a border with Ghana, raising concerns about the potential spillover of violence.

GCERF'S UNIQUE INVESTMENT MODEL

Country
 Support Mechanism

GCERF pioneers a unique investment model designed to promote a whole-of-society approach and ensure the sustainability of our programs. Under this model, in each partner country, we support national governments in establishing a steering committee called the Country Support Mechanism (CSM).

In Ghana, CSM is chaired by the National Security Council Secretariat and brings together relevant government agencies, civil society organizations and donor representatives to provide strategic direction for the programs, ensure results and progressively inherit ownership of funding community-level efforts to prevent violent extremism.

Download Country Snapshot
Key Drivers of Violent Extremism
external Factors

Increased flow of refugees from Burkina Faso burdening existing social infrastructure.

Ethnic tensions arising from land disputes

Growing tensions between farmers and herders around access to natural resources.

Governance and Infrastructure Struggles to Manage migratory flows

Absence of effective screening systems to monitor potential infiltration and recruitment by violent extremist groups.

Results at a Glance

Key Results

Total amount invested (USD)
$ 0 M
Grants
0
Civil society organisations
0
District authorities, community & religious leaders, media personnel trained in conflict resolution and peacebuilding mechanisms to promote harmony and address grievances before VE groups can exploit them
0 +
Youth at-risk of radicalisation trained in critical thinking and digital literacy to combat misinformation and online radicalisation
0 +
Traditional leaders, refugees, community members, and youth engaged through campaigns to increase their understanding of PVE and strengthen community resilience against violent extremism
0 +
Refugees, women, and youth at risk of violent extremism equipped with vocational skills and alternative livelihoods to reduce their vulnerability to recruitment into violent extremism
0 +

Investment & grant figures updated May 2026 · Programme results updated December 2025

Our Approach

Investment Strategy
 in Ghana

Community trust icon
Strengthen community resilience through the promotion of traditional conflict resolution and peacebuilding mechanisms.
Livelihood icon
Strengthen the economic security of vulnerable populations to reduce their susceptibility to recruitment into violent extremism.
Design sans titre
Create an enabling environment for the prevention of violent extremism within communities, CSOs and local authorities.
Our IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Active Grants
 in Ghana

Current Grants 3 Active
01 CDD-Ghana
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 900,000
Duration
Dec 2024 – June 2027
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
CDD-Ghana
Sub-Recipients
African Students for Interfaith Tolerance (ASFIT)
Centre for Advancing Rural Opportunity (CARO Ghana)
Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment (RISE-Ghana)
Programme Objectives
1
Livelihoods and start up certification for vulnerable populations.
2
Advocacy for inclusive service access and public engagement.
3
Strengthen traditional conflict prevention and resolution structures.
Areas of Implementation
Builsa North Bawku Municipal Bongo Kassena-Nankana East Bolgatanga East districts Lambusie Karni Nandom Wa West Lawra Municipal Bunkpuru-Nyakpaduri Yunyoo-Nasuan Chereponi East Mamprusi West Manmprusi districts
02 NORSAAC
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 900,000
Duration
Dec 2024 – Jun 2027
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
NORSAAC
Sub-Recipients
Capacity Enhancement and Community Support (CAPECS)
AFRIKIDS
Programme Objectives
1
Mentorship and small grants for economic empowerment.
2
Large-scale PVE awareness campaigns.
3
Peer-to-peer grassroot conflict resolution and peacebuilding training.
Areas of Implementation
Kassena Nankana West Tempane Builsa South Talensi Bolgatanga Municipal Nabdam districts Daffiama Bussie Issa Nadowli-Kaleo districts Mamprugu Moagduri
03 STAR-Ghana
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 900,000
Duration
Dec 2024 – June 2027
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
STAR-Ghana
Sub-Recipients
Belim Wusa Development Association (BEWDA)
Social Initiative for Literacy and Development Program (SILDEP)
Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA)
Programme Objectives
1
Digital literacy for youth to PCVE online.
2
Refugee and minorities (Fulanis, women, etc.) empowerment.
3
Linking beneficiaries of income-generating activities to market opportunities in other regions.
Areas of Implementation
Bawku West Garu Binduri Pusiga districts Sissala West Sissala East Districts
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