Peace Council urges civilians, security agencies to deepen trust

The National Peace Council has urged both civilians and security agencies to foster trust and enhance information sharing in order to bolster security and enable an expedited reaction to potential threats in border communities. Damien Asobayire, the Upper East Regional Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, made this plea during a dialogue between civilians and security officials organized for the residents of Kongo and Nagaamni communities in Tempane District.

This event was part of the Governance, Rule of Law and Peacebuilding for Sustainable Development Project, which is being executed by the National Peace Council and is funded by Denmark, Luxembourg, and South Korea through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The dialogue gathered 200 participants and representatives from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Bureau of National Intelligence. The goal of the meeting was to tackle the lack of trust between residents and security agencies and improve cooperation in identifying and reporting early warning signs.

As part of the project, the National Peace Council presented two motorbikes to the Ghana Immigration Service and one to the Ghana Police Service to improve their operational efficiency.

Asobayire highlighted that previous interactions with the two communities had shown a lack of trust between civilians and security personnel, which impacted the timely reporting of security issues. He emphasized that building trust between the two parties is essential for effective collaboration and swift response to emerging threats.

The project also identified inadequate transportation as a significant challenge that security agencies face in promptly reacting to reports from the communities, which is why motorbikes were donated to aid their operations.

Alhassan Abdul Rauf, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration and Operations Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service in Tempane, clarified that the service aims to facilitate people's movement in and out of the country, but its effectiveness heavily relies on cooperation from civilians due to the porous nature of the borders. He lamented the recent killing of an immigration officer at Nagaamni as a significant blow to personnel morale and called for residents to cooperate with security agencies to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

Rauf emphasized that this cooperation would not only ensure justice but also help prevent attacks on security officers and bolster their morale to carry out their duties.

DSI Rauf appreciated the Peace Council, UNDP, and their donors for the motorbike donations, stating that the vehicles would improve patrols and rapid response, especially in areas like Mamburi, where permanent officers are absent. Deputy Superintendent of Police Victor Gakpey, Garu District Police Commander, stressed that information sharing and trust between civilians and security agencies are crucial in combating crime.

He encouraged residents to promptly report suspicious activities and support lawful actions by the security forces.

Christopher Kanwelbal, the Customs Commander at Missiga, urged residents to resist facilitating the movement of illicit goods and assist customs officials in tracking and controlling goods to generate revenue for development. Elizabeth Amadu, a participant, commented that the dialogue was enlightening and altered her view on paying customs duties.

Assembly Member Ali Nagban of Nagaamni Electoral Area expressed the community's readiness to assist security agencies and commended the National Peace Council and its partners for their efforts in promoting peace and security in the area.