This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to curb the growing threat of violent extremism in the West African Sub-region and build resilience of border communities against infiltration.

The training was part of the project dubbed "Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract through Empowering Women and Youth in Northern Ghana," funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The project is being implemented in 24 communities in six districts namely Bongo, Bawku West and Garu Districts in the Upper East Region, Sissala West District in the Upper West Region, and Chereponi and Nakpanduri Districts in the North East Region.

Illicit economies are illegal economic activities that take place in a country that is against the laws, leading to invasion of taxes, corruption and impacting national security.

The activities can include human trafficking, arms smuggling, counterfeiting, money laundering, cybercrime, and illegal drug trade.

The project is focused on educating local populations and strengthening their relationship with the security agencies to work together to combat the destructive impact of such illicit activities.
The training brought together women, youth, and security agencies such as the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service and Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

Speaking during the training sessions, Mr Albert Yelyang, National Network Coordinator, WANEP-Ghana, underscored the significant role border communities played in both preventing illicit activities and violent extremism.
He said research had shown that there was growing activities of illicit economies in places where social conflicts existed.

These activities often fund and fuel extremist groups operating across the Sahel and West Africa, and some social conflicts and noted that preventing illicit activities, communities will help limit the spread of activities of extremists.

"Ghana is known to be a hub of the movement of illicit activities such as illicit activities in arms, drugs, population and because Ghana is hospitable, coupled with the ECOWAS protocol of free movement of people, goods and services, there might be illicit activities crossing the borders from other countries," he said.

The National Network Coordinator said it was imperative for the communities to be able to identify these activities and understand how to work with the security agencies to prevent and strengthen the resilience of border security to prevent infiltration of violent extremism.

"Ghana has not been attacked yet by extremists but the lessons we have learnt over the years is that we need to be proactive in preventing extremism and social conflicts...."
He expressed confidence that when the communities were empowered, they would form part of a greater network of information sharing that would help to roll out activities to prevent illicit economies and violent extremism.

During the training, participants profiled some of the illicit activities that were happening in their communities and discussed strategies to combat such activities.

The participants expressed gratitude for the training, stating that it has helped to enlighten them on illegal activities that had impact on peace and security in their communities.
Pognaba Felicia Agampoka, Queenmother for the Feo community believed that community members were empowered and encouraged through the training to act as key informants, helping to detect and dismantle networks of illicit trade that can fund extremist groups.