Threats of Terrorism and Violent Extremism: NOPSWECO launches Activism Campaign

Ghana Chapter of the Network for the Peace and Security of Women in the ECOWAS space (NOPSWECO), a gender activism group has launched an activism campaign calling to help sensitize women and the youth against the threats of terrorism and violent extremism.

The group says it has noted that threats of violent extremism and terrorism have increased in the sub-region in recent years and have become more and more interlinked at local and regional levels.

President of NOPSWECO-GH, Madam Euphemia Akos Dzathor, has noted that violent extremism and terrorism are exacerbating existing governance and inequality challenges within the ECOWAS countries, especially conflict-prone communities. She made the remarks at a press conference on in Accra on Tuesday, August 31, 2021,

According to her, events of the past two years with high-profile extremist violence in Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger and Chad, among other challenges have caused the Network to consider what it means to be female in the nation that endures these appalling atrocities.

“West Africa has been a region of sustained extremist violence in the last 8 years. As the threat of violent extremism descends towards coastal states from the Sahel, Ghana faces the potential threat of extremist recruitment and radicalization. Already attacks in three countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – have increased fivefold since 2016, with more than 4,000 deaths reported in 2019. More than 4 million have been displaced across the Sahel and 1.2 million displaced in Burkina Faso in 2020 alone,” the president of NOPSWECO-GH noted.

She said Ghana’s proximity to Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali and Niger – which are experiencing attacks has led many to predict that the country could be among the next target for attacks in the region, revealing that, “More than 12 young Ghanaians have been reportedly recruited by ISIS and other extremist groups.”

As part of the campaign, the NOPSWECO-GH said it is embarking on series of activities to sensitize the youth and residents along with border communities about the activities of these ISIS and how to prevent violent extremism.

“In the next six weeks, we will engage Community Sensitization forums in the local communities, radio and television discussions and make use of videos and digital tools to enhance awareness and understanding of the threat and its drivers and how we can all collectively work to prevent violent extremism in Ghana,” Madam Dzathor added..

Vice President of NOPSWECO-GH, Magdalene Kannae, said the best way to deal with the threat is to prevent it from happening in the first place, emphasizing that they would target communities prone to these threats to create awareness for mothers to advise their children, while the youth also take precaution against questionable financial enticement packages due to the level of unemployment.

A Co-opted Board Member of NOPSWECO-GH, Dr. Charity Binkah, charged the media, to give voices to the West African women to create awareness and as well build resilience against violent extremism to ensure Ghana remains a stable and peaceful nation.

Below Is the Full Press Statement

PRESS CONFERENCE ON PREVENTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM (PVE) IN GHANA AND THE SAHEL

NOPSWECO CALLS FOR MORE COMMITMENT AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO PREVENT VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN GHANA AND THE SAHEL

Accra, August 31, 2021 – Good morning to the Media and everyone here. We are happy to welcome you to a press conference by the Network for the Peace and Security of Women in the ECOWAS space (NOSPWECO), Ghana Chapter, on Preventing Violent Extremism in Ghana and West Africa. The purpose of this conference today is to bring to your attention and to the attention of all Ghanaians, the increasing danger of violent extremism in West Africa and the growing proximity of the threat to our country.

West Africa has been a region of sustained extremist violence in the last 8 years. As the threat of violent extremism descends towards coastal states from the Sahel, Ghana faces the potential threat of extremist recruitment and radicalization. Already attacks in three countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – have increased fivefold since 2016, with more than 4,000 deaths reported in 2019. More than 4 million have been displaced across the Sahel and 1.2 million displaced in Burkina Faso in 2020 alone.

Ghana’s proximity to Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali and Niger– which are experiencing attacks has led many to predict that the country could be among the next target for attacks in the region. More than 12 young Ghanaians have been reportedly recruited by ISIS and other extremist groups.

The existence of pervasive ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts in Northern Ghana, together with the over 532 prolonged unresolved chieftaincy conflicts nationwide, political vigilante violence and intra-religious clashes make the teaming unemployed youth vulnerable to violent extremism. Statistics from the Global Terrorism Index for 2020 indicate that 73% of all terrorism deaths in 2020 occurred in countries already experiencing conflicts.

There are many porous borders especially with the Northern border with Burkina Faso with regular and unmonitored crossings between the two countries.

It is worth noting that Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) programing and state counter-terrorism measures have been disproportionately led by the State and focused more on males. We believe that success in Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) will be hard to achieve without the full participation of civil society groups and local community members including women. The local population is best placed to identify signs and threats in their communities, before even State actors. They command higher legitimacy, goodwill and trust from members of the community than the State. They are therefore inevitable agents in dealing with Violent Extremism.

Also, women and women leaders who are adequately informed on PVE and peacebuilding have a higher chance of contributing effectively to breaking social habits and tendencies that inspire extremism and undermine peace. They are more resourceful, willing and effective at helping to dismantle tendencies that are supportive of violence.

It is based on the above that NOPSWECO in collaboration and support from UNWOMEN and the Austrian Cooperation is embarking on active advocacy and community awareness creation in its contribution to Preventing Violent Extremism in Ghana and the Sahel. Our initiative is intended to educate and empower the local population especially the youth to play effective roles in building peace and resilience against violent extremism. Their understanding of the threat will enable them to be willing to support the work of the Police by reporting suspicious activities as well as dissuading peers from engaging in activities that can lead them into extremism.

Action Plan:

In the next 6 weeks, we will engage Community Sensitization forums in the local community, radio and television discussions and make use of videos and digital tools to enhance awareness and understanding of the threat and its drivers and how we can all collectively work to prevent VE in Ghana.

The best way to deal with the threat is to prevent it from happening in the first place. We, therefore, call on the media, government, civil society and all stakeholders to make it a priority to work together to build resilience against VE, and ensure that remains a STABLE and PEACEFUL country.

TERRORISTS AT BURKINA

THANK YOU.