Experiences of children during violent conflicts in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Children are disproportionately and negatively affected by violent conflicts due to their vulnerability. Children are mainly victims of conflicts who suffer from malnutrition and displacement and become orphans, refugees and child soldiers in times of violent/armed conflicts. Using social learning and coercion theories, this paper examines how violent conflicts in Northern Ghana affect children, using the experiences of child victims in two conflict cases: the Gonja-Nawuri and Bawku conflicts. This is a qualitative study which uses in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to collect data through purposive and convenience sampling. The study revealed that children in the two conflict cases suffered several upheavals and traumatic experiences, including deaths, injuries, psychological traumas, malnutrition, hunger, displacement, migration, truncation in their education and being used as combatants. The study recommends the enforcement of the United Nations (UN) protocol on the non-involvement of children in armed conflicts in conflict areas of Ghana.