More than 40 civil society organisation (CSO) representatives from Ghana’s five northern regions have begun a five-day training in Bolgatanga to strengthen their capacity to identify emerging threats and help communities prevent violent extremism.
The training, which began last Monday, is being organised by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), in collaboration with the National Peace Council (NPC) and the West Africa Centre for Counter Extremism (WACCE) with funding from Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
It is aimed at equipping CSOs with practical knowledge and skills to identify vulnerabilities within communities, foster social cohesion and support locally led initiatives to prevent violent extremism before extremist groups can exploit existing grievances.
Youth unemployment raises concern
The training comes at a time of growing concern over the spread of violent extremism in neighbouring countries and across the Sahel, with stakeholders emphasising the need for Ghana to strengthen preventive measures.
Recent research conducted by CRS and the NPC across 30 communities in Ghana’s five northern regions identified youth unemployment, poverty, limited educational opportunities, substance abuse and perceptions of weak governance as some of the factors that could increase communities’ vulnerability to violent extremism.
Significantly, 86 per cent of respondents identified youth unemployment as a major driver of vulnerability, highlighting the importance of addressing socio-economic challenges confronting young people as part of efforts to prevent violent extremism.
Focus on community prevention
The ongoing training is expected to expose participants to the drivers, manifestations and consequences of violent extremism, while helping them understand how local vulnerabilities can be identified and addressed before they escalate.
Participants are also expected to explore ways of strengthening community engagement, social accountability and collaboration among local stakeholders in building resilient communities.
Speaking on behalf of the CRS Country Representative, Adelaide Yiriyelleh, Project Manager at CRS Ghana, said CSOs were strategically positioned to contribute to the prevention of violent extremism because of their close links with communities.
“Communities are the first line of defence against violent extremism, and CSOs are among the most trusted actors within our communities,” she said.
She added that strengthening the capacity of local organisations to recognise vulnerabilities, engage citizens and promote peaceful responses to local challenges was critical to building communities that could withstand extremist influences.
Prevention
The Executive Director of WACCE, Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar, said efforts to prevent violent extremism should go beyond conventional security responses.
He said violent extremism was often influenced by a combination of social, economic, political and governance factors, making it necessary for CSOs and communities to understand and address those underlying conditions.
