Porous Borders Pose Threat of Violent Extremist Activities in Ghana – NCCE
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The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has raised concerns over Ghana’s vulnerability to violent extremist activities, citing the porous nature of the country’s northern borders as a significant risk factor.
Speaking at a community dialogue session in Nadowli, Mr. John Yibile, Deputy Upper West Regional Director of NCCE, highlighted that neighboring countries of Ghana had experienced attacks by violent extremists. He underscored that Ghana’s porous borders facilitated the movement of extremists and weapons across the region.
The dialogue, organized by the Nadowli-Kaleo District Directorate of NCCE under the European Union-funded “Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Northern Regions of Ghana” project, aimed to foster trust and enhance relations between the community and the Ghana Police Service.
Mr. Yibile emphasized the importance of collaboration between the police and the community in preventing and countering violent extremism. He stressed that effective modern policing requires inclusive decision-making and cooperation among all stakeholders.
Superintendent James Ankan, Nadowli-Kaleo District Police Commander, contributed to the dialogue by highlighting various factors contributing to violent extremism, including religious, political, ideological, and chieftaincy conflicts. He noted challenges such as logistical constraints and community distrust, which hindered efforts to combat extremism.
Mr. Ankan called for support for law enforcement agencies in identifying individuals at risk of radicalization and emphasized the need for coordinated stakeholder efforts and information sharing to effectively counter extremism.
Madam Stella Dugrah, Principal Civic Education Officer at Nadowli-Kaleo District NCCE office, explained that the dialogue aimed to strengthen cooperation between the police and communities. It sought to build trust, enhance understanding, and promote collaboration in maintaining peace and security.
Participants in the dialogue included traditional leaders, assembly members, security personnel, and community members from Nadowli. The session concluded with a commitment to fostering tolerance, national cohesion, and community resilience against violent extremism in Ghana.
