By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), Aug. 30, GNA â The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has initiated a project that seeks to build resilience of vulnerable communities in northern Ghana against violent extremist activities through capacity-building and sensitisation.
The project dubbed, âPromoting Socio-Economic Inclusion, Social Cohesion, and Peacebuilding for Vulnerable Communitiesâ, is funded by the Global Community Engagement Resilience Fund (GCERF) to be implemented in 15 districts in the Upper West, North East and Upper East Regions.
The two-year project would adopt a three-pronged approach to preventing violent extremism â promote socio-economic inclusion, strengthen social cohesion, and enhance peacebuilding.
Presenting a baseline survey finding of the project in Wa, Mr Eric Doe, the Programmes Officer of CDD-Ghana, Tamale Office, said the rising threats of violent extremism in Ghanaâs neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and CĂŽte dâIvoire, necessitated the intervention.
He explained that unresolved unemployment, poverty, inter-ethnic conflicts and extremist ideologies had exposed the country to insecurity.
The survey examined the root causes of conflict, existing peace-building mechanisms, the prevailing peace and security situation and the skills gaps and economic opportunities available to citizens in the project districts.
The survey revealed that about ten per cent of youth aged 15 to 24 expressed support for violence as a means of addressing grievances, which Mr Doe said was a cause for worry.
âThe majority of the community members lack sufficient productive assets, indicating a high level of economic vulnerability to violent extremist activitiesâ, Mr Doe indicated.
Other findings included moderate levels of trust within communities and exclusion from decision-making processes, reflecting a disconnection between local governance and citizens.
Mr Doe added that the respondents ranked health, education and clean water as their most pressing needs against security, with young people placing emphasis on access to telecommunications and internet connectivity.
The report stressed the need for targeted livelihood support, skills training, and economic empowerment, especially for women and out-of-school youth.
The report indicated a high level of trust in local authorities, which provided an opportunity for collaboration to prevent radicalisation and violence.
Pognaa Fati Issaka Koray, the Upper West Regional Coordinating Director, said the dialogue created a platform for the stakeholders to share experiences and shape strategies to address issues of peace and security.
She said the Regional Coordinating Council remained committed to ensuring that the outcomes of the dialogue were incorporated into district and regional-level planning, coordination and decision-making.
The Centre for Advancing Rural Opportunity (CARO-Ghana) was leading the project implementation in the Nandom, Lambussie, Lawra and Wa West Districts in the Upper West Region.
Mr Freeman Kanton, the Executive Director of CARO-Ghana, explained that the project would build the resilience of the communities to withstand any possible infiltration, radicalisation, or recruitment of young people within the communities into extremist organisations.
âWe feel that to tackle the vulnerabilities of violent extremism in the region, we need to deal with unemployment, promote peaceful coexistence and mechanisms in resolving conflictsâ, Mr Kanton indicated.
Stakeholders at the meeting included representatives from security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, youth and women groups and Heads of Departments and Agencies.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian Akorlie