The Inclusive Community Empowerment (ICE) project has been launched, to build the capacity of staff of the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, to facilitate community resilience as a critical step towards the overall social cohesion in the area.
The six month-long project also seeks to foster peaceful coexistence through inclusive community empowerment.
Residents of Kafaba, a farming community in the Municipality, will also benefit from the project, which will adopt capacity building workshops, public sensitisation campaigns and structured community dialogues to help prevent violent extremism in the area.
The ICE project, being undertaken by the Total Life Enhancement Centre-Ghana (TOLEC-GH), a psychology focused Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), is under the Preventing Violent Extremism and Supporting Peace in the Northern Border Regions of Ghana initiative, being implemented by COGINTA Ghana and funded by the European Union.
Mr Peter Mintir Amadu, the Executive Director of TOLEC-GH, at the launch of the project at Salaga in the Savannah Region, said it was to enhance citizens’ awareness and participation in promoting peaceful communities, while mitigating the threats posed by violent extremist groups.
The launch brought together key stakeholders including traditional leaders, local government representatives, community members, and civil society organisations, as part of efforts towards strengthening civic engagement and gender-sensitive approaches to conflict prevention.
Mr Amadu said the project was to empower communities through education and dialogue by fostering inclusive participation and equipping citizens with the tools to counter radical influences.
He said the ICE project was also designed to address the root causes of community tensions and vulnerabilities, promoting civic actions that reinforced social harmony.
Madam Patience Somah, the Gender Desk Officer, East Gonja Municipal Assembly, who chaired the launch, said the project had the potential to positively influence gender-related issues, violent extremism, mental health and psychosocial support services while at the same time ensuring inclusivity, resilience and community empowerment.
Mr Godsway Bismark Ayivor, the Chairman of the Ewe ethnic community at Kafaba, said TOLEC-GH’s approach of incorporating mental health into peacebuilding advocacy campaign was strategic and inclusive, adding it would help promote communal peace and stability.
Source: myghanadaily
