The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has initiated the "EU for a Secure Ghana" Project, aimed at fortifying Ghana's capacity to prevent and respond to violent extremism, terrorism, and transnational organised crime. This project aligns with Ghana's security priorities, focusing on strengthening state institutions. The launch was accompanied by a two-day national training workshop on the revised United Nations Illicit Arms Flows Questionnaire.
The "EU for a Secure Ghana" Project has three key outcomes, including strengthening state institutions to counter violent extremism and terrorism while upholding the rule of law and human rights. It also aims to enhance state capacities to combat transnational organised crime, particularly the trafficking of small arms and light weapons. Furthermore, the project seeks to empower civil society, local communities, and vulnerable groups to contribute to security and conflict-prevention efforts.
Deputy Minister Terlabi commended the European Union and development partners for their continued support in strengthening Ghana's law-enforcement capabilities, institutional accountability, human rights protection, community resilience, and firearms control. This initiative is a significant step towards bolstering Ghana's security architecture. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Dr. Adam Bonaa, Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, emphasized that the initiative aims to reinforce systems for data collection and reporting. He stressed that Ghana should not take security for granted, highlighting the importance of this project in enhancing the country's security. The project's focus on data collection and reporting will enable Ghana to better track and respond to security threats.
The "EU for a Secure Ghana" Project is a timely intervention, given the growing concerns about violent extremism and terrorism in the West African region. Ghana's security agencies have been working to prevent the spillover of these threats from neighboring countries. This project will enhance the country's capacity to respond to these threats, while also addressing transnational organised crime.
The two-day national training workshop on the revised United Nations Illicit Arms Flows Questionnaire brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the challenges and opportunities in combating illicit arms flows. The workshop provided a platform for participants to share knowledge and best practices in addressing these challenges. It also aimed to build the capacity of stakeholders to collect and report data on illicit arms flows.
The government's efforts to strengthen the capacity of state institutions to counter violent extremism and terrorism are crucial in maintaining peace and stability in Ghana. The "EU for a Secure Ghana" Project is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and its success will depend on the collaboration of all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and local communities. The project's impact will be closely monitored, and its outcomes will inform future security initiatives in Ghana.
Key points
- The "EU for a Secure Ghana" Project aims to strengthen the capacity of state institutions to counter violent extremism and terrorism.
- The project has three key outcomes, including enhancing state capacities to combat transnational organised crime and empowering civil society to contribute to security efforts.
- The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
