Abstract:
This study examined the phenomenon of electoral violence in the Odododiodio
Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. The study's primary purpose was to examine
effects of electoral violence on victims in the constituency, their coping strategies, the type
of support they received, and the implications of the violence on their human rights. The
work was grounded in the frameworks of Electoral Violence Theory and Relative
Deprivation Theory. The study employed a phenomenological design, utilising qualitative
methods such as in-depth interviews to gather rich, firsthand accounts from victims of
electoral violence. Using homogenous purposive sampling and exponential discriminative
snowball sampling techniques, the study relied on a sample size of fifteen individuals who
have been victims of electoral violence. At the point of data analysis, only the views of
eight participants were factored into the analysis due to data saturation. In vivo coding was
carried out, and the data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. On effects of
electoral violence on victims, this study identified areas such as physical injuries where the
victims had scars of wounds from machetes, stones and other sharp objects; damaged
property; and loss of livelihoods. Again, on the issue of coping strategies that helped
victims of electoral violence to navigate the difficult path of recovery, this study identified
that victims, among others, used such techniques as connecting with family and friends and
engaging in relaxation skills. Furthermore, regarding the types of support victims of
electoral violence received, the study revealed that families, friends, churches, and some
political party members supported the victims with financial aid to help pay hospital bills.
Finally, from the study, it was evident that the victims were conscious of their fundamental
human rights and that the electoral violence against them had a significant implication on
their right to freedom of expression and right to peaceful enjoyment of property. Based on
the findings of this research, it is recommended that trauma support programmes should be
implemented to help victims cope with psychosocial distress through counselling, medical
care, and structural support for rebuilding lives.
Description:
A thesis in the Centre for Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies,
Faculty of Social Science Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Human Rights, Conflict and Peace Studies)
in the University of Education, Winneba
