Navrongo, (U/E), Sep 5, GNA- Traditional and religious leaders at the Kessena Nankana Municipal and the Builsa South District, has lauded the Upper East Regional Peace Council for its effort in the fight against violent extremism in their communities.

The leaders said the quest by the Peace Council in sensitising traditional leaders, youth groups, and women on violent extremism has contributed immensely to their alertness to the activities of the violent extremists, repositioning them well to guard themselves against being used by the violent extremists.

Naba Anambono Ayamga Saa II, the chief of the Natugnia community in the Kassena Nankana Municipality, indicated that “for the effort of the Peace Council, almost everyone is now aware of the existence of violent extremists and their likely habitual operations, and they must be commended.”

Naba Akanaab Apowien, the chief of Wiesi in the Builsa North Municipality, said, “The peace council has justified its mandate by virtue of its relentless effort on the activities of violent extremists and the need for us to be aware, combat their cruel activities, and live peacefully among ourselves, and we are grateful.”

Pastor Collins Kumadoe from the Presbyterian Church in Navrongo noted that “but for the peace council, many would have been left in the dark on the activities of the violent extremists to be taken by surprise.”.
They made the remarks when the council engaged them in a two-day capacity-building workshop in their respective traditional areas on the Land Act, Understanding violent extremism, radicalisation, and its effect on economic activities to enable them to promote the prevention of violent extremism.

It formed part of the Atlantic Corridor Project being implemented by the Upper East Regional Peace Council aimed at preventing and responding to violent extremism with funding support from the governments of Denmark, Norway, Germany, and Australia through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr Ali Anankping, the Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, noted that land had become the most common cause of conflict in some of the communities, and getting the chiefs and other community leaders to understand the Land Act would limit most of these conflicts.

He added that early warning as a tool was crucial in fighting the activities of violent extremists, and the community leaders, having been empowered, were expected to further the education in their communities.

Under the Atlantic Corridor Project, the Peace Council had engaged residents of border communities and security services, students of both tertiary and second cycle institutions in their bit to intensify education on the activities of the violent extremists in the Region.
GNA