Upper East Regional Minister Hafiz Bin-Salih has commended the government’s efforts in implementing measures to combat violent extremism and terrorism, praising the Ministry of National Security for taking significant steps to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity.
Speaking at the launch of a 3-day program themed “Review of the National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Ghana” in Bolgatanga on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, he highlighted the establishment of Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) along the country’s borders as a key measure to consistently protect Ghana’s sovereignty.
The “See Something, Say Something” campaign, implemented to educate the public about the activities of violent extremism and terrorism, has yielded positive results, particularly in the Upper East Region, which is proximal to the Sahel region.
“The Ministry of National Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of the Interior, has over the years put in place measures such as the establishment of Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) across our borders to continuously protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country against any form of aggression that might arise from the Sahel,” Dr. Bin-Salih stated.
He assured the Ministry of the region’s utmost commitment to this framework, acknowledging the potential dangers posed by activities of violent extremist groups in the Sahel region.
Dr. Edward Ampratwum, who spoke on behalf of the country representative for the united Nations Development Programme (UNDP), urged the government to address long-standing conflicts to prevent the infiltration of terrorist groups into the country.
“Ghana has not recorded any attacks, but it is critical to address the underlying challenges and drivers, including protracted conflicts, in the main parts of the country,” he emphasized.
Daniel Osei Bonsu, Deputy Director, National Counter Terrorism Fusion Center, stressed the need for citizens to recognize and address the issue of radicalization, terrorism, and violent extremism within the country. “Let’s look at ourselves, address the issues in terms of radicalization and extremism. We are already dealing with some of these issues within the country itself,” he said.
The event which ended on 11th July saw participants identify gaps in the framework and proposed ways of bridging the identified gaps.
The three-day program was organised by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with National Security Ministry with funding support from the German cooperation and Australian Aid. The event assembled key stakeholders from the security sector, including representatives from various security agencies, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, Australia’s High Commission, district chief executives, and traditional leaders.
