By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog, GNA
Bolgatanga, Dec. 4, GNA – Norsaac, a non- governmental organisation, has convened its annual coordination summit under the Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism in Northern Ghana (STRIVE–Ghana) project to strengthen community resilience against violent extremism.
The summit brought together security agencies, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, and community leaders to review progress and adopt scalable strategies for preventing violent extremism in northern Ghana.
The three-year STRIVE–Ghana initiative, funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), is being implemented by a consortium with Capacity Enhancement and Community Support (CAPECS Ghana) and AfriKids Ghana in collaboration with the National Peace Council, across border communities in the Upper East, North East, and Upper West regions.
The project targets young people, women’s groups, traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and displaced and marginalised populations.
Madam Hafsatu Sey Sumani, Head of Programmes and Policy Influencing at Norsaac, addressing stakeholders at the summit, said the project had already recorded significant gains in its first year, particularly in building trust between security actors and community members.
“We have seen remarkable progress between the security and the community people. There is a growing level of trust, and many community members are now reporting early warning signs of extremist activities,” she said.
Madam Sumani said STRIVE–Ghana had intensified awareness creation in border communities and deepened collaboration among state agencies, traditional leaders, peace actors, and civil society.
She noted that engagements led by the Regional Peace Councils had greatly improved coordination among security agencies.
“Extremist activities around us sometimes look ordinary to people, but sustained awareness creation is helping them recognise suspicious behaviour. The ability of community members to detect and report threats is, in itself, a major success,” she added.
However, she said the project currently covered only a fraction of communities in each district, leaving many others vulnerable.
“If a district has over 180 communities and we are engaging only four or five, it means a lot more work remains,” she stressed, calling for more partners to replicate proven strategies across the region.
“All the presentations here emphasise collaboration, inclusion and partnership. No single actor can effectively prevent violent extremism without the others,” she said.
To reduce youth vulnerability to radicalisation, STRIVE–Ghana has also rolled out skills training in soap making, satellite installation and other trades.
More than 80 young people have been trained and will receive start-up support to enhance their livelihoods.
Madam Fouzia Ayinpogbila Issifu, Assistant Programme Manager at the Upper East Regional Peace Council, delivering a presentation on Best Practices and Lessons Learned in PVE Programming, outlined key challenges security actors face in building community resilience.
She noted stereotypes against Fulbe communities, inadequate logistics for border patrols, frequent transfers of security personnel, which interrupt trust-building, drug abuse fuelled by weak enforcement, political interference in chieftaincy matters, high youth unemployment, and unresolved land and chieftaincy disputes.
She recommended scaling up community–security dialogue forums, expanding PVE training, strengthening early warning systems, and promoting farmer–herder engagements.
Mr Abutu Kapori, Registrar at the Regional House of Chiefs, warned that unresolved land disputes, illegal mining, and chieftaincy conflicts continue to heighten vulnerabilities in many communities and underscored the need to address these conflicts before they escalate.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian Akorlie