We need to engender police-community relations to fight crime, prevent violent extremism - NCCE to Canteen residents

As mandated under Article 233c of the 1992 Constitution, the West Gonja Municipal Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held a sensitization forum with residents of Canteen Electoral Area, a suburb of West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region, on violent extremism, counter-terrorism, corruption, and crime prevention.

Addressing a large gathering of community members at the Sunflash Hall in the canteen, the West Gonja Municipal Director of NCCE, Mohammed Ibrahim, emphasized in a welcome address the importance of community engagements in fostering closer ties between civilians and the police, adding that crime fighting is a shared and collaborative responsibility.

He urged citizens to take a keen interest in understanding the laws of the country and be active participants in the fight against violent extremism, counterterrorism, corruption, nepotism, and crime in general in our communities.

In his estimation, the seeming lack of trust between citizens and security agencies must be cemented to help address the gap in the maintenance of law and order for economic activities.

Issahaku Zitor, the Savannah Regional Director of NCCE, said community members must put aside their political, religious, ideological, and tribal differences and work together to counter violent extremism.

According to him, community members must appreciate the enormity of the problem at hand and come to a common understanding that the biggest enemy in society is the fight against poverty, protracted chieftaincy disputes, farmer-cattle herder impasse, and excruciating hardship, among others.

He said violence is never the answer, exhorting community folks to see violent extremism as something that is closer than it's far, citing Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria as classical examples.

The West Gonja Municipal Commander of Police, ASP Mr. Charles Aniagyei, said the integrity of the police will always dictate community trust and help reduce tension, conflict, and violent extremism.

He said there is a need to come to a mutual understanding of the challenges, build partnerships, and use open and honest communication to build a police service where everyone feels respected, valued, and accepted.

ACP Aniagyei regrets the actions of some unethical officers, which are fast obliterating trust between the police and citizens.

He called for effective community support for crime combat in the form of vigilantism and community watchdogs.

AEMT Gideon Antwi, West Gonja Municipal Manager of the National Ambulance Service, assured of the availability of security officers to partner communities in the fight against violent extremism.

Chiefs and opinion leaders of Canteen lauded NCCE for the lovely and timely engagement, using the opportunity to ask relevant questions and seek clarifications on some matters of community concern.