The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the Wa Municipal Police Command, has engaged residents of Wa-Dobile in the Wa Municipality in a community dialogue session to build trust and cooperation with the police.
The engagement seeks to establish a foundation of trust between the police and the community members, ensuring that everyone feels heard, respected, and valued, and the impact of violent extremism on the enjoyment of human rights and freedom.
Speaking during the dialogue, the Upper West Regional Commander of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), ASP Adongo Apiiya, said the engagement creates the opportunity for the people to have confidence with the police.
He noted that the municipal police command needs to intensify police visibilities and ensure democratic policing and social relationships to achieve trust and cooperation among people.
“It is an expectation that we [police] act with good intensions, keep promises and maintain confidentiality,” he said.
He mentioned that the police should practice what “we called democratic policing. This democratic policing is something that will help police to get in touch with the community members.”
Mr Sebastian Ziem of CHRAJ noted that violent extremism is a lawless act that affects the development of any society.
According to him, everyone has fundamental human rights that they need to enjoy without restriction.
"But now there are some people who get up and say they will use whatever means or force to get whatever they want for their own selfish desires. When they do that, a lot of us are affected negatively," he said.
He observed that in the absence of peace, people are unable to freely move around or go to their workplaces.
During her address, the Wa Municipal Coordinating Director, Pognaa Fati Issaka Koray, emphasized the significance of cooperation among state agencies and development partners.
She explained that the program also seeks to enhance the trust between communities and security agencies, especially the police, in order to ensure the successful implementation of government policies and programs.
“There should be intersectoral collaboration among security agencies and communities to enhance holistic development and peaceful coexistence.”
She continued that “it is an undeniable fact that the bad blood between the police and the community is negatively affecting the provision of quality service delivery as there is always a charged atmosphere in the discharge of their duties.”
According to her, the police and the community should exhibit a cordial relationship as the police work to protect the citizenry.
“And so both parties should be able to relate well and fish out the bad nuts among the citizens and also prevent the loss of precious lives in line of duty,” she added.
Naa Y.O.D Saaka-Sunche Naa said peacebuilding needs a strong participation of the youth to maintain peace in the society.
“Chiefs desire peace, which is the responsibility of all of us. Peace requires the involvement of the youth,” he added.
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