The National Peace Council in the Upper East Region is seeking improved collaboration between residents of border communities and various security agencies with the aim of detecting elements of crime early.
As part of the desire to achieve this, the Council, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, held a public dialogue that brought together residents of various communities including Manyoro, Natugnia, Sirigu, Yua, and members of the Fulbi community all from the Kassena Nankana West District and Kassena Nankana Municipal Assemblies of the region.
During the engagement, it was observed that the community members do not have a basic understanding of the activities of security agencies with some equally raising concerns of undue harassment by some security agencies.
According to the Peace Council, the engagement, which is sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)and the government of Norway, has become necessary following the emerging threats posed by the activities of armed bandits across Ghana’s immediate borders and internal upheaval between local communities and Fulbis.
Speaking in an interview with the media, the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Ali Anankpeng, explained that there is a need for close collaboration with community members to improve information flow and to further safeguard communities.
He observed that family ties of people in border communities with their counterparts from neighboring countries have the potential of compromising security.
“The major trigger for this engagement is the violent extremist activities happening across the border and the likelihood of people coming into Ghana through unapproved roots and this is also being visited on the local Fulbi community. The other issue has to do with the understanding of safety by our community members and by our community members. Do they all understand safety with a common understanding? If not there is a problem so we are now looking at how they can work together. We noticed that family ties which people think such family relations should not be questioned.” Mr. Anankpeng said.
According to Salifu Jibril, a Fulbi, the engagement is necessary since it allows for cohesion and integration adding the major concern for Fulbis is the stereotyping of people of that extraction.
“This program is important because we will be able to get security agencies and indigenes because the major challenge is the stereotyping and discrimination.” He lamented.
Meanwhile, the Assembly Member for Manyoro, Kingsley Kanwi, has been sharing the plight of community members and how the engagement has triggered the need for more engagements at the community level.
