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In Ghana, as in other peaceful countries, citizens can move freely to carry out their economic activities, which feed millions of people.
But new threats, including violent extremism, especially in the Sahel and the West African sub-region, pose serious threats to democratic governance, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in Ghana. These threats, coupled with recent trends in crime, conflict and violence, have required the development of a national framework to prevent / counter violent extremism and terrorism in Ghana. The framework prioritized prevention as the optimal and preferred option to address the threats of violent extremism and its implications for civil order and peacebuilding in the country.
Nationally, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in partnership with the National Peace Council, has trained key stakeholders in selected border communities in Ghana on how to identify warning signs early and prevent violent extremism to promote and maintain peace in Ghana.
Speaking at the workshops, Dr Angela Lusigi, UNDP Resident Representative, noted that Ghana is a beacon of peace in the sub-region and in Africa due to its strong achievements in democracy and development. However, land and chiefdom conflicts, crimes caused by the proliferation of small arms and growing instances of political self-defense and violent extremism in the sub-region can undermine the country’s credentials for peace. She noted that conflicts are often preceded by disagreements and unresolved disputes, hence the urgent need to identify these signs and indicators early to mitigate and prevent them.
“Each of us can make an important contribution to peacekeeping. We must help identify the first signs of conflict and radicalization in order to facilitate rapid mitigation and response ”, underlined Dr Lusigi.
Likewise, during the training workshop in Aflao in the Volta region, the supreme leader of Aflao, Togbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V, stressed the need to invest more in conflict prevention. He noted that “no one is born a violent extremist, but radicals are made and fueled by certain societal factors, so we must work collectively to protect the borders against any external aggression ”.
Speaking at the event in Kassena Nankana West District in the Upper East region, Mr. Ali Anankpieng, Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, noted that “the threat of violent extremism reaching south towards the Gulf of Guinea haunts many West African countries, including Ghana, hence the need to build the capacity of stakeholders in peacebuilding “.
The training was particularly important as it informed participants about useful tips for early warning of conflict situations and how to report them. They were advised to provide timely, reliable, verifiable and accurate information to facilitate rapid response and mitigation.
“I have acquired more knowledge thanks to this training which I will send back to my community. I will work with security agencies in my community so that we mobilize young people to revive the old watchdog to identify early warning signs of conflict for necessary mitigation measuresNoted Dzame Veronica, participant and organizer of youth and women in Aflao in the Volta region.
The workshop involved stakeholders including representatives of local government, civil society organizations (CSOs), local leaders, youth and women from at-risk communities of Ketu South Municipality in the Ketu South region. Volta and the Kassena Nankana West district of the Upper East region, which lie along the main border areas of Ghana.
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