The training and sensitisation, held separately for two days in each of the communities, was to prevent violent extremism through increased awareness and collaboration between the border community members and the security agencies.

The beneficiary border communities were Saru, Tagalyiri and Dabodarikura, all in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the region, and participants were drawn from diverse groups including women groups, traditional leaders, youth groups, clergy, and security agencies with much emphasis on
women and youth.

They were taken through various learning sessions on understanding violent extremism, radicalisation and the drivers of violent extremism, the role of women and youth in peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism, early warning and early response mechanisms to violent extremism and conflicts, conflict management and resolution amongst others.

A blend of theories and graphics (photos and videos) were used to explain concepts for participants to understand the import and essence of the training.

It was organised by the Savannah Regional Peace Council (SRPC) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and donor partners (Denmark, the Republic of Korea and Luxembourg) under the Preventive Approach to Protect Development in the Gulf of Guinea (Prevention Facility)-Ghana.

Mr Kennedy Atiibo, Regional Executive Secretary of SRPC, speaking during the trainings and sensitisation in the communities, urged participants to take the training seriously considering the gravity of the threat of violent extremism and the critical role they could play in the country's prevention efforts.

He said the country was surrounded by countries already suffering from the attacks of violent extremist groups from the Sahel, adding that the country stood the risk of potential attacks, hence the sensitisation of women and youth in border communities.

He said the emphasis on women and youth was because women were mostly vulnerable due to some social and cultural values that kept them marginalised and such could be exploited by
extremists, whilst the youth too, most of who were not economically empowered, could be exploited to channel their energies into violent conduct.

He expressed the need for community members to prevent and manage community-based conflicts as a way of reducing internal vulnerabilities.

Madam Paulina Freyour, who was a participant from Dabodarikura, said she had learned something about early warning and reporting, adding that she would sensitise other community members on the need to report on issues accurately so as not to cause panic.

Madam Wasilatu Seidu, a cross-border trader from Tagalyiri, also a participant, said she learned that through cross- border trade, women could be radicalised and used to transport weapons and other illicit materials.

She pledged to create awareness amongst her colleague traders to be vigilant, especially with the items and goods people gave them to send to other people.
At the end of the sensitisation, each community was tasked to come out with a community action plan for implementation geared towards preventing violent conflicts and extremism.