By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Aug. 26, GNA – Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the National Peace Council and West Africa Centre for Counter Extremism have trained CSOs in Northern Ghana to strengthen community resilience and prevent violent extremism.
The five-day training, held in Bolgatanga, brought together more than 40 CSOs working across diverse sectors in Northern Ghana to strengthen their capacity to identify emerging risks, foster social cohesion and support community-led efforts to prevent violent extremism.
The training came at a critical time as violent extremism continues to threaten peace and stability in neighbouring countries and across the Sahel.
Speaking on behalf of the CRS Country Representative, Ms Adelaide Yiriyelleh, Project Manager at CRS Ghana, said strengthening local organisations was critical to ensuring that prevention efforts were grounded in community realities.
She said recent research conducted by CRS and the National Peace Council across 30 communities in Ghana’s five northern regions further highlighted the urgent need for collective action.
The study identified youth unemployment, poverty, limited educational opportunities, substance abuse and perceptions of weak governance among the key factors increasing communities’ vulnerability to violent extremism.
Notably, 86 per cent of respondents identified youth unemployment as a major driver of vulnerability.
Against this backdrop, the training provided CSOs with an opportunity to translate evidence into practical prevention efforts.
She said participants examined the drivers, manifestations and consequences of violent extremism and explored how local vulnerabilities could be addressed before extremist groups exploited them.
Ms Yiriyelleh explained that as the regional security environment continued to evolve, strengthening the capacity of local actors remained central to protecting Ghana’s peace and preventing the infiltration of violent extremists.
“Communities are the first line of defense against violent extremism, and CSOs are among the most trusted actors within our communities.
“Strengthening their capacity to recognize vulnerabilities, engage citizens, and promote peaceful responses to local challenges is critical to building resilient communities that can withstand extremist influences and contribute to lasting peace,” she said.
Mr Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar, Executive Director of the West Africa Centre for Counter Extremism, emphasised that preventing violent extremism required a broader approach that went beyond security responses.
“Violent extremism is driven by a combination of social, economic, political, and governance factors. Effective prevention requires CSOs and communities to understand these dynamics, engage constructively with stakeholders, and address vulnerabilities before they escalate,” he said.
The participating organisations said the training had provided an opportunity not only to build technical capacity but also to strengthen networks and identify areas for collective action.
Through practical exercises and peer learning, participants developed action plans to apply their learning within their respective communities and organisations.
The training formed part of the Prevention of Violent Extremism through Social Accountability (PoVETSA II) project, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by Catholic Relief Services in collaboration with the National Peace Council and other relevant stakeholders.
The project seeks to strengthen community resilience, promote social accountability and support locally driven approaches to preventing violent extremism and terrorism in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
[email protected]