Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Economic Related Interpersonal Violence in Kasoa City of Ghana

Abstract

This paper has explored stakeholders’ perspectives on economic related interpersonal violence in Kasoa of Ghana, considering foremost, the inducers of interpersonal violence, and followed by stakeholders’ responses to the phenomenon. The paper was guided by the Human Needs theory, which elucidates to the effect that the needs of humans and the actions of others contribute in shaping human’s behavior. The qualitative research approach was deployed with case study as design. Participants in the study were drawn from three communities of Kasoa, thus; Opeikuma, Zongo and Ofaakor. Data was gathered from Assembly Members from the three communities, personnel of the Ghana Police Service, Victims of interpersonal violence, the Chair of the Municipal Security Council, and Chiefs using face-to-face interviews. The data was analysed qualitatively using the thematic approach. The findings of the paper revealed that, economic related factors such as growth in economic activities, high rate of youth unemployment, drugs abuse among the youth, dismissal of trained security personnel from service, and the desire to get rich quick syndrome among the youth induced interpersonal violence in Kasoa. It was also found that stakeholders employed security, economic, and social measures to respond to interpersonal violence in Kasoa. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the government of Ghana, through the Municipal Assembly in Kasoa, must introduce programmes and initiatives to create employment opportunities for the teeming youth. The Ghana Police Service in Kasoa must also be resourced by both government and NGOs to enable them to fight interpersonal violence.