The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the European Union (EU), has organized a Community/Police Dialogue session at the Buipe Jinapor (II) Sports Stadium in the Savannah Region. The meeting brought together major youth groups, community leaders, the district police unit of the Ghana Police Service, and other stakeholders to build trust and foster cooperation in the fight against violent extremism and extremist threats within the district, region, and nation.
In his welcome address, Mr Saaka Yakubu Muftawu, the District Civic Education Officer of the NCCE, highlighted the significant threats that violent extremism poses to community and individual safety. He noted that such threats thrive on fear, mistrust, and division among community members and security agencies.
Mr. Saaka emphasized that community members are crucial in combating crime, as they can provide insightful information about potential extremist threats. He urged members to overcome their negative attitudes and perceptions towards police officers, as these have a major impact on cooperation in crime prevention and crime-reduction programs. He stressed the need for community members to collaborate with the police to create a safer district, region, and nation free from extremist activities and threats. He encouraged participants to take the discussions seriously and develop measures to detect and report extremist activities to the police for swift action.
District Police Commander ASP Kwame Nimo called for the support of community members in fighting crime. He emphasized that the police and community members are like brothers and sisters who need to work together to combat crime within the district. Mr Nimo pointed out that community members often hide criminals during police attempts to apprehend perpetrators and encouraged them to be law-abiding citizens by reporting crimes to the police. He noted that effective policing relies on how well residents and police officers work together as partners. He assured the community of the police’s readiness to collaborate with them to combat extremist threats.
District Crime Officer Mr Edmund Amoako explained some of the activities of violent extremist groups to community members. He said these extremist activities thrive on bad leadership, corruption, youth unemployment, and other challenges to spread their destructive ideologies. He noted that many of these activities have occurred in neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, which are closely linked to Ghana’s borders, underscoring the need for vigilance and information sharing about potential threats. He urged community members to be vigilant and assured them of the police’s preparedness to work hand-in-hand to make the nation free from extremist threats.
During the open forum session, participants shared diverse views and perspectives on the topics discussed. For instance, Mr. Asumah Ushawu, a group member, asked if they could trust the police with their identity when reporting potential threats. The commander responded by highlighting the Whistleblower Act and urged participants to trust the police with the information shared. Mr. Zakaria Abawu, representing the “Koliwura,” emphasized the need for citizens to collaborate and be law-abiding to fight the menace of terrorism and extremism. He also called on the police to respond promptly when called upon, as delays often cause significant issues for the community.
Stakeholders addressed pertinent concerns during the highly participatory and interactive dialogue session, allowing all participants to openly express their views and concerns.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
