By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Chache (S/R), April 20, GNA – Savannah Regional Peace Council (SRPC) has held a capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening community resilience against violent extremism at Chache, a border community in the Bole Municipality.
The two-day workshop, organised with support from the Governments of Norway and Denmark through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was attended by 70 participants including traditional leaders, religious leaders, assembly and unit committee members, women and youth groups as well as personnel from the Ghana Immigration Service.
They were taking through sessions on key thematic areas including Understanding Violent Extremism, Drivers of Violent Extremism, Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms, and Conflict Management and Resolution.
The training adopted a participatory approach combining theory with visual aids such as photos and videos to ensure practical understanding and engagement.
The training formed part of the “Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism in the Atlantic Corridor Project”, which seeks to enhance local structures and empower communities, especially those in border areas to effectively prevent and respond to threats of violent extremism and internal violence.
Mr. Kennedy Atiibo, Regional Executive Secretary, Savannah Regional Peace Council, speaking during the training, emphasised the growing risks posed by violent extremism in the sub-region.
He noted that Ghana’s proximity to the Sahel where extremist activities were on the rise placed border communities at increased vulnerability.
He said “Extremist groups often exploit porous borders to infiltrate communities, recruit and radicalize youth and carry out violent acts. Communities like Chache, which share borders with La Côte d’Ivoire, must remain vigilant and proactive.”
Mr Atiibo said the training would support the establishment of a community-based Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism enabling residents to identify and report early signs of violent extremism and potential local violent conflicts for timely intervention by security agencies.
He assured residents that the Savannah Regional Peace Council remained committed to fostering peace, strengthening community resilience and preventing conflict and violent extremism across the region.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh /George-Ramsey Benamba