By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Doninga (U/E), March 18, GNA – The Upper East Regional Peace Council, through its Community Peace Committee (CPC) in Doninga in the Builsa South District, has organised a one-day dialogue session between civilians and the security services.
The dialogue session aimed at building trust and fostering good relationship between the two groups to prevent violent extremism and enhance social cohesion.
The dialogue event brought together security agencies, including the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Narcotics Control Commission and the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, along with civilians, including chiefs, queen mothers, and members of the Fulbe community.
It formed part of the implementation of the Community Peace Committee’s action plans under the activity, “Community Dialogues to Strengthen Indigenes and Fulbe Relations and Establish Community Peace Committees (CPC).”
The activity is under the Atlantic Corridor project, being implemented by the Upper East Regional Peace Council with funding support from the governments of Norway, Australia, Germany, and Denmark through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Nab Abrayenkaboa Ayuwie, Chief of Naverinsa community and a member of the Community Peace Committee, noted that strengthening relationships between the Fulbe, indigenes, and security agencies was key to preventing violent extremism.
“Not only that, but a good relationship among us would also promote peaceful co-existence and create a platform for communication where we can strategise on how we and the security services can tackle crimes for a safer community,” he added.
Mr David Angaamba, the Principal Programmes Manager at the Upper East Regional Peace Council, emphasised that building trust and good relations between the community and the security services would help deescalate tensions by addressing specific issues that caused mistrust and conflicts.
He said the Peace Council was committed to ensuring that communities lived in harmony while safeguarding themselves from activities of violent extremists, adding “and we are very grateful to the UNDP and its partners for making this initiative and others possible.”
Mr Victor Abo-Ame Akanbonga, the Upper East Regional Programs Officer of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, indicated that acts of violence and violent extremism were often driven by the use and possession of illicit arms and urged the residents to report individuals in possession of illegal arms to the security services.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI), Robert Ubindam, Head of Operations at the Paga Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service, noted that the country’s borders were porous and therefore, required collective efforts from both security agencies and civilians to prevent illegal entry of persons.
Mr Seth Okang, Assistant Analyst at the Paga Office of the Narcotics Control Commission, pointed out that individuals who engaged in heinous crimes were often under the influence of drugs and stressed the importance of communities reporting drug users or dealers of unauthorised substances to avert their adverse effects.
Mr Salifu Innusah, the Builsa South District Officer of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), revealed that Ghana had become a haven for violent extremists, making it crucial for citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals.
“After committing heinous crimes, including killing innocent people in Burkina Faso, where violent extremism is active, these criminals flee to Ghana to rest. As residents, you must stay alert and report any suspicious characters,” he stated.
GNA
FAA/AD