Ghanaian ISIS recruits trained in Niger

Islamic State is likely to recruit more Ghanaians according to a Global Risk Insights (GRI) report published on Sunday, September 13, 2015.

According to this online publication of news and analysis on political risk for the business community, Northeast Nigeria, Niger, and Chad may continue to facilitate massive recruitment of Ghanaian youths for IS, serving as training grounds and travel routes.

According to the report, "Prior to the news of Twenty-five year old Nazir Alema Nortey and Rafiq travelling to join the Islamic State, Ghana had a reputation of being one of the very few stable and established democracies in Africa. Whereas employment has been relatively low in Ghana, there is potential for increased unemployment given that macro-economic growth has dropped below the average of at least 8% since 2013 and currently stands at 3.9 percent."

"The Islamic State’s recruits from Ghana are believed to have journeyed to Nigeria to receive training at a Boko Haram training camp in Niger before traveling to Turkey or Syria" the report states.

In late August this year, National Security Coordinator Yaw Donkor confirmed news of some Ghanaian youth being recruited into the Islamic sect after urging them to join radical online forums.

The recruits’ are purportedly promised luxurious lives when they get to Syria and Iraq, as well as assurance of quality life for their immediate family members back at home. This is an offer Ghanaian young men and young women are finding difficult to refuse, especially youths from the majority: northern Ghanaian Muslims, states the report.

Mohammad Nazir Nortei Alema, a 25-year old who studied geography at the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, was confirmed as one of those who had joined IS. Another Rafiq is alleged to also have joined, but his personal details are yet to be made public.

However, according to the GRI report, "What is disturbing, however, is that the statement allegedly made by the National Security Coordinator that not many Ghanaians have travelled to join the Islamic State, therefore, “there was no need to be petrified.

"Ghana, like many other Africa countries, does not have anti-terrorism processes. Fears about IS threats are now running high in Ghana, with the possibility of radicalized youths returning home someday.

It will be in the interest of Ghana’s national security to work with its West African neighbours on how to fashion and develop effective anti-terrorism processes, as well as curtailing IS’ recruitment of African youths, beginning with President Buhari’s official visit to Accra on Monday, September 7th," the report concluded.