Ethnic, political exclusion, not theology alone drives Muslim sectarian violence in Ghana, KNUST study finds

Intra-Muslim conflicts in Ghana are driven less by purely religious differences and more by ethnic, political and generational exclusion, with government bias and local power struggles playing a decisive role in escalating violence, according to a study published in Islamic Africa. The research finds that tensions between Salafi and Tijaniyya groups, particularly in the 1990s, were often rooted in competition over leadership, identity and access to resources within Zongo communities, rather than doctrinal disagreements alone. Using case studies from Wenchi, Techiman, Kumasi and other towns, the study shows how religious divisions became intertwined with ethnic rivalries, especially between Hausa migrants and indigenous groups such as Banda and Dyula and were further inflamed by political interests and perceived state favoritism.

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