The threat of radicalisation and violent extremism is growing closer to Ghana.
According to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), there have been multiple jihadist and extremist movements and activities in Kala and Kampala.
The two are communities in Burkina Faso located just a few kilometres from Nakolo in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.
The Ghana Immigration Service emphasises that this situation demands immediate and urgent attention. The deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Robert Ubindam, head of operations and Intelligence at the Paga Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service, spoke to the media on the sidelines of a community engagement in the area.
He noted that the GIS has intensified monitoring of Ghana’s borders to prevent violent extremist activities and is enhancing collaboration with both state and non-state organisations to train and educate young people.
“We’ve been engaging with the members of the Nakolo community and other surrounding communities, such as Kulia and Gwania, to build trust so they can collaborate with security services and provide information about any unusual occurrences in their area. Nakolo is a border community with Burkina Faso, particularly near Kaya, Kampala, and other locations on the Burkina side, which have been flagged multiple times for extremist and jihadist activities.”
DSI Ubindam explained that if residents are aware of how to spot extremist or jihadist activities, they will be better able to liaise with authorities for appropriate action.
The Ghana Immigration Service has deployed armed officers to patrol unapproved borders as part of Operation Conquered Fist, which has been launched to address these threats.
“It is crucial to raise awareness among the community members about the threats from Burkina Faso, especially from Kaya and Kampala. By understanding the reality of these threats, they will be better able to identify and report unusual movements, attempts at radicalization, or recruitment of their youth to the security services.”
“For us in immigration, we have an unapproved point of entry here, which we monitor daily with armed personnel. This is part of the government’s operation, called Operation Conquered Fist, launched in 2019 in response to the existential threat of violent extremism from the Sahel, including Burkina Faso.”
“Nakolo is a critical area for us because we need to monitor people coming from Burkina Faso, including the items they carry and the documents they present, given that it is an unapproved route some might use to enter Ghana while evading controls at the main border.”
The Assemblyman for the Paga-Nakolo Electoral Area, Michael Asagewe, called for more education for community residents to deal with the threats posed to Ghana because of the activities of jihadists and extremists in Burkina Faso.
The Ghana Immigration Service, Upper East Regional Peace Council, National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and Narcotics Control Commission have been engaging community members to raise awareness in border communities about the persistent threat of violent extremism. The community discussions have focused on the agenda: “Building Trust between Security Agencies and Border Communities through Community Forums.”
This initiative is part of the Atlantic Corridor Project, aimed at preventing and responding to violent extremism. It is funded by the governments of Denmark, Norway, Germany, and Australia through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Reporting by Mark Smith in the Upper East Region
Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
