By Razak Baba
The Country Director for West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP), Mr. Albert Yelyang says the looming threat of terrorism in the West Africa sub-region, coupled with other security challenges faced in Ghana, is an indication for Ghanaians to help sustain the efforts by the government to mitigate such threats.
Mr. Yelyang made this known at an awareness-creation and training workshop on prevention of violent extremism in Kumasi.
The three-day workshop and awareness-creation on prevention of violent extremism was organised by the Ashanti Regional Peace Council in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The event was also used to build the resilience of youth and women-led micro, small and medium enterprises in selected communities in the Ashanti Region through innovation and digitalization.
Participants included artisans from Suame Magazine, butchers, poultry farmers, traders, security personnel, as well as women and youth groups in the region.
The training also aimed to increase citizens’ engagement to prevent the radicalization of youth and help create local proactive and participatory approaches to prevent violent extremism by building resilience systems to deal with threats to sustainable peace.
The UNDP Programme Officer, Madam Melody Azinim, said investing in and building youth resilience is necessary for the positive development of any society. Therefore, the UNDP will continue to partner with state agencies such as the National Peace Council to sustain advocacy in promoting peace among the citizenry.
A member of the Ashanti Regional Peace Council, Father Anthony Naah, said in times of conflict, no one is immune to its negative consequences and outcomes, hence there is the need to collectively work towards the maintenance of national peace in the region and the nation.
Colonel Henry Ansah Akrofi, who represented the Commander of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, entreated participants to be on the lookout for strangers propagating doctrines which are inimical to the nation’s culture and tradition and report them to the appropriate state agencies for swift action.
The Country Director for West Africa Network for Peace, Mr. Albert Yelyang, said data from the latest global terrorism index indicates that the Sahel and West Africa regions have now become the epicentre of terrorism and violent extremism.
He, therefore, commended political leaders in the West Africa sub-region for pooling resources to safeguard their citizens
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Coordinating Director, Mr. I K. Acheampong commended particularly the UNDP for supporting the government’s “Obaatanpa” Programme which seeks to help youth and female-led micro, small, and medium enterprises thrive equitably.
