The Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Air Vice Marshal David Anetey Akrong, has expressed concerns that mistrust and poor communication between communities and security agencies could hinder efforts to prevent violent extremism in Ghana. He emphasized that building public confidence and involving residents in security decision-making is crucial. AVM Akrong made these remarks at a workshop on strengthening civilian trust and community resilience in preventing violent extremism, organised by KAIPTC and the National Peace Council (NPC), with support from the Embassy of Spain in Ghana.
The workshop, held at the TAP Hotel in Bolgatanga, is part of a series of regional engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation between security institutions and communities. Similar workshops have already been held in Wa in the Upper West Region and Damongo in the Savannah Region, with another engagement scheduled for Nalerigu in the North East Region. AVM Akrong stated that these engagements have revealed concerns among residents about communication gaps, limited confidence in reporting security threats, negative experiences with security personnel, and the exclusion of some groups from local security decision-making.
According to AVM Akrong, participants at the Damongo engagement called for stronger measures to protect the identities of people who provide information to security agencies. They also advocated for greater participation of young people and community groups in local security structures. Proposed solutions included regular community dialogues, public education, and improved feedback mechanisms to strengthen cooperation between residents and security institutions. AVM Akrong emphasized that communities want to be heard, better served, and involved in decisions affecting their safety.
The Commandant noted that security challenges in the wider region remain complex, citing armed insurgency, cross-border insecurity, and population movements. He also mentioned longstanding local disputes, competition over resources, and tensions within and between communities as contributing factors to instability. AVM Akrong cautioned security institutions against treating ordinary community activities or entire social groups as potential security threats.
AVM Akrong warned that associating particular clans, ethnic groups, or pastoralist communities with insecurity could deepen mistrust and weaken cooperation between residents and security agencies. He stressed that preventing violent extremism requires addressing grievances and vulnerabilities that extremist groups could exploit. This includes the peaceful resolution of longstanding disputes, stronger public confidence in security institutions, and greater community participation in identifying and addressing security threats.
The KAIPTC Commandant emphasized that sustainable peace and security can only be achieved through trust, dialogue, accountability, and mutual respect between communities and the institutions responsible for their protection. He called for a collaborative approach to addressing security challenges, involving both security agencies and community members. This approach, he believes, will help build trust and foster a safer environment.
The workshop series is a collaborative effort between KAIPTC, the National Peace Council, and the Embassy of Spain in Ghana. The goal is to strengthen cooperation between security institutions and communities, ultimately preventing violent extremism. Key outcomes from the workshops will inform future engagements and policy decisions aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity in Ghana.
Key points
- Effective prevention of violent extremism requires stronger security capabilities and quality relationships between communities and security institutions.
- Communities want to be heard, better served, and involved in decisions affecting their safety.
- Sustainable peace and security can only be achieved through trust, dialogue, accountability, and mutual respect between communities and security institutions.
