The Community Resilience Against Violent Extremism (CRAVE) for Inclusive Development project has been launched to strengthen community resilience against the threat of violent extremism in the Karaga District of the Northern Region.
The six month-long project, being undertaken in three communities in the district namely, Tong, Sung and Nangun Nayili, seeks to harness the strength of the youth through positive and peaceful masculinity practices.
It is also to bridge the gap between communities and the Ghana Police Service by promoting the community policing principles with the aim of improving security and strengthening peaceful coexistence.
Mr David Yiridong Issaka, Executive Director, CSD Reform, speaking during the launch at Karaga, said the project, which started in and non-Fulbe youth to reduce vulnerability to violent extremist organisations’ recruitment.
He said the project would facilitate community conversations through trauma healing, psychosocial support and dialogues aimed at enhancing peaceful coexistence with minority ethnic groups in the area.
The project is being implemented by CSD Reform, an NGO, and funded by the European Union through COGINTA Ghana under the larger Preventing Violent Extremism and Supporting Peacebuilding in the Northern Border Regions of Ghana project.
He said the project would orient the youth on peaceful masculinity, form and train neighbourhood watch committees, form, and train Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees to address farmer-pastoralist conflicts among other key interventions.
Superintendent Mr Peter Adjei, Karaga District Police Commander, said the project would help deepen the community policing concept, which had been identified as one of the most effective strategies in addressing crime.
He pledged the Police’s commitment to the project saying, “It would go a long way to positively influence law enforcement activities in the district.”
Alhaji Seidu Musah, Leader of the Fulbe community in the Karaga District, commended CSD Reform and partners for the project pledging to support its effective implementation in the area.
Source: myghanadaily
