The Upper East Regional Peace Council has called on residents of Kayoro, Chiana and Nakolo communities in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region to help the security services in the fight against violent extremism.

The Peace Council said the fight against violent extremism required a collective effort and urged community members as key stakeholders to collaborate with the security services to defeat the activities of the violent extremists for peaceful coexistence.

Mr. David Angaamba Atualing, the Principal Programmes Manager of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, made the call when he addressed over 200 residents in each of the communities that border Burkina Faso, at separate fora.

He emphasised that “the violent extremists don’t only aim to attack but also to recruit the youth into their groups, and as a community, you must be alert and vigilant so that, together with the security services, you can prevent and contain their activities.”

The engagement, held on the theme: “Building Trust Between Security Agencies and Border Communities Through Community Forums,” formed part of the Atlantic Corridor Project aimed at preventing and responding to violent extremism.

It is being sponsored by the governments of Denmark, Norway, Germany and Australia through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Jerry K. Attipoe, Officer in Charge (OIC) at the Navrongo Office of the Ghana Immigration Service, called on the community members to be vigilant and help the service to identify strangers who used unapproved routes into the community.

“You are the right people to detect who among you is a stranger and to some extent how they get into the community, and so we are appealing to you to liaise with us in the fight against the activities of the violent extremists for a safer environment for all of us”, he added.

Mr. Victor Abo-Ame Akanbonga, the Regional Programmes Officer, National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, indicated that the community members had a duty to report persons with illegal arms, to the security services to ensure a safe environment.

“One cannot inherit a registered weapon, such as a gun, from a relative and start using it, you have to report to us, and we will take you through vetting to see if you are fit to use that gun because the person who acquired it went through a process, and that does not validate you as the second owner. ”

“Weapon is a delicate tool, and if you are to report someone in possession of it, it must be done smartly,” he added.

Speaking on drugs, Mr Seth L. Okang, the Assistant Analyst at the Paga office of the Narcotics Control Commission, said apart from the legal consequences one may face for possessing or using drugs, including heroin and cocaine, among others, the use of such drugs could be detrimental to one’s health and urged the residents to desist from its use and trade.

He said a person who imports or exports narcotic drugs illegally could face a prison sentence of not less than 10 years, and persons found using the drugs risk being jailed for five years.

Mr Joseph B. Apini, a participant from the Kayoro community, said police harassment of residents on the road had breached the trust between the security services and the community members, but the engagement had renewed his hope in the need for them to collaborate.

Mrs. Benedicta Awoliwo, a participant from the Nakolo community, said the engagement had empowered them on how they could detect suspicious characters and report to the security services.