In Ghana’s northern regions, proximity to borders, historical marginalization, and limited economic opportunities seem to be creating fertile ground for extremist tendencies/ideologies. Indeed, the risk of violent extremism looms large due to proximity to countries such as Burkina Faso.
But thanks to the Security in Northern Ghana (SING III) Project, communities are flipping the narrative. Through grassroots initiatives by some / five civil society organizations—SAVE Ghana, Young Peace Ambassadors, Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA), Peace for Life Ghana, and Social Initiative for Literacy and Development Programme (SILDEP) —local actors are becoming the first line of defence in Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE).
A critical success of the SING III project lies in community sensitization—ensuring that ordinary people are not just aware of violent extremism but are equipped to counter it.
SILDEP’s community sensitization campaigns in Sissala East and West served as eye-openers. Many residents were unaware that violent extremism was already at their doorstep. Through town hall meetings, interactive dialogue, and targeted messaging via radio jingles, the organisation helped communities identify early signs of radicalization. “Now they know how to ask questions when strangers arrive,” said Anthionette Kuukye, Project Officer at SILDEP.
“This partnership with STAR-Ghana has sharpened our approach to peacebuilding. Now, our communities understand that violent extremism isn’t a distant threat. It’s right at our doorstep.”
Antiviolence Response Teams
A standout PVE strategy across several partners has been the formation of Community Antiviolence Response Teams (CART)—volunteer groups trained to observe, report, and prevent threats of violence or extremism.
BEWDA, SILDEP, and SAVE Ghana established CARTs across more than 20 communities. These teams—comprising youth, women, and local leaders—were trained by Ghana’s Police, Immigration, and National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) officers. Their training included identifying red flags, reporting protocols, and community mediation.
In Kasana, CART members facilitated the arrest of armed robbers, proving the value of localized vigilance. “Before this, we didn’t know how to act when we saw suspicious people,” said Bukari Batong, a CART member. “Now we know how to observe, how to report, and how to protect our community.”
In Pusiga, a vulnerable border district with porous boundaries, BEWDA targeted cross-border threats. Community-based forums with local security agencies, including immigration and customs, strengthened trust and created a culture of “See Something, Say Something.” Community champions, including youth leaders and women, were trained to identify suspicious movements and share intelligence with local authorities.
A Fulbe elder, Dicko Sulleimani, noted: “Now, we are not just bystanders. We are part of the solution. We watch the borders, and we report movements that don’t feel right.”
Peace Ambassadors
Youth in underserved communities are often seen as vulnerable to radicalization—but under SING III, they’ve become agents of peace.
Young Peace Ambassadors (YPA) has creatively engaged communities through football tournaments and youth parliaments to raise awareness on peace and prevent violent extremism. A recent “Football for Peace” event featured mixed teams of Fulbe and Dagomba youth, promoting teamwork and unity.
In addition, mock youth parliamentary sessions brought together diverse voices to debate peaceful coexistence and integration strategies. “These platforms allow young people to express themselves and contribute to building a peaceful society,” said Baba Kamaldeen, Executive Director of YPA.
He added, “By giving young people, the platform to lead conversations on peace, we’re building their resistance to radicalisation.”
Abdul Wahab Yusif, a youth participant, shared, “Before, I didn’t understand why people from other tribes were different. Now, I know we are all part of the same community.”
Religious and Cultural Inclusion
PVE efforts also focused on dismantling discrimination and marginalization, which extremists often exploit to recruit.
Peace for Life Ghana worked across ethnic and religious divides in Saboba, engaging both Christian and Muslim youth in peacebuilding activities. The organisation organized interfaith sessions that promoted shared values of tolerance, dialogue, and mutual respect.
In many communities, the Fulbe were previously excluded from decision-making processes. Through sensitizations and inclusion campaigns led by SILDEP, SAVE Ghana, and BEWDA, Fulbe individuals have now been appointed to leadership roles and included in planning discussions. This not only enhances community cohesion but deprives extremists of fertile ground for recruitment.
Leveraging local media
Across all five partner organizations, radio programming played a critical role in raising awareness and spreading PVE messages.
SILDEP and SAVE Ghana produced radio jingles that addressed Fulbe integration, early warning signs of radicalization, and encouraged collective community vigilance.
BEWDA aired interactive radio dialogues where security officers answered live questions from residents on how to report suspicious activities, protect their borders, and ensure communal peace.
One of the most significant outcomes of the PVE strategy has been a cultural shift—from passive tolerance to active protection.
In the past, communities would ignore strangers or strange activities, assuming it was “someone else’s problem.” Now, thanks to training and dialogue, there is collective ownership of safety. We used to think peace was the job of the police,” said Katara Batong, a community volunteer. “Now, we know peace starts with us. We’re more alert, more united, and more ready.”
Local Power in Preventing Extremism
The SING III Project has shown that preventing violent extremism doesn’t always require only barbed wire or checkpoints—it requires people. When communities are empowered to include, to listen, to protect, and to act, extremism finds no room to grow.
By equipping local CSOs with tools and trust, and by building bridges between security agencies and ordinary citizens, the project has made communities not just aware of the threats, but actively resilient to them.
As Titus Deri of the Ghana Immigration Service at Sissala East affirmed, “These communities have become more than just aware—they’ve become watchful. And that, to me, is the greatest defense against extremism.”
