Bolgatanga: Mrs. Janet Sarney Kuma, Director in charge of Capacity Development and Outreach at the National Peace Council (NPC), emphasized the critical need for civilians and security services to foster trust as a means to combat the drivers of violent extremism. She highlighted that security should be viewed as a shared responsibility, requiring cooperation between civilians and security personnel to address the root causes of violent extremism and promote peaceful coexistence, which is essential for development.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Kuma made these remarks at a dialogue involving youth, women, and opinion leaders from various communities in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The event, which included participation from security agencies, was part of the Prevention of Violent Extremism Through Social Accountability II (PoVETSA II) project. Led by the Catholic Relief Services and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project aims to enhance public trust in security services while building their capacity to apply social accountability mechanisms effectively.
Mrs. Kuma reiterated that although Ghana is seen as a stable nation within the sub-region, this peace should not be taken for granted. She warned that violent extremism and terrorism pose significant threats not just to national security but also to familial and community peace and development. Therefore, she advocated for continuous vigilance and proactive collaboration between citizens and state actors.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Clement Awaitey from the Upper East Regional office of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) also spoke at the dialogue. He emphasized the importance of civilian collaboration in safeguarding the country’s borders and encouraged citizens to provide information to the services, assuring them of confidentiality.
ANCO Jennifer Abedi, Acting Head of the Education and Counselling Unit of the Upper East Regional office of the Narcotics Control Commission, addressed the issue of illicit drug abuse among youth in the region. She called for civilian cooperation to combat the trade of illicit drugs, ensuring community members of the highest level of confidentiality when they provide information.
Mr. Ali Anankpieng, a Peace and Conflict Resolution consultant and facilitator of the dialogue, noted that a purely securitized approach could not resolve issues of fractured security-civilian relations, unresolved internal conflicts, and extremist threats. He advocated for community-based strategies alongside operational responses by security agencies to address the root causes of radicalization.
Mr. Anankpieng underscored that socio-economic grievances such as poverty, inequality, and political exclusion, often exploited by extremists, require attention. He praised Ghana’s Prevent, Pre-empt, Protect, and Respond framework as a comprehensive strategy that addresses both security threats and underlying extremism drivers, urging for its strengthened implementation at the community level.