Description
Abstract
The inter-communal conflict in Bawku, a town in Ghana’s Upper East Region, has reshaped the livelihood strategies and economic realities of youth in the area. While young residents have demonstrated resilience to the political instability over the past decades, the intractability and viciousness of recent episodes of localized tensions have significantly undermined the capacity of youth to secure decent and sustainable livelihoods. Drawing on qualitative data garnered from interviews with young people affected by the violence, the article explores how conflict-induced instability shapes livelihood strategies in Bawku. I argue that the Bawku conflict has created economic conditions that trap young people in survival-based income generating activities, constraining their ability to fully exploit the economic potential of the area, particularly in the informal sector. The findings suggests that the ongoing violence has disrupted the local economy and heightened young people’s reliance on informal livelihood strategies. The looting of businesses, restrictions on movement, and periodic curfews have rendered many informal economic activities untenable. These disruptions have not only reduced income-generating opportunities but have also heightened the risks of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty. The article contributes to the literature on youth livelihoods by highlighting how local political and social dynamics influence young people’s capacity to engage in meaningful livelihood activities.
Keywords: Bawku, communal conflicts, youth livelihoods, precarity, survivalism, Ghana
