…EU facilitates dialogue between CSOs and state security agencies
The Strengthening Border Security in Ghana (SBS Ghana) project, funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) in collaboration with the Ghana Integrity Initiative, has held a two-day roundtable discussion and workshop on ‘The Role of CSOs in Ghana’s Border Security Management’.
The workshop’s main objective is to develop linkages between seven civil society organisations that are beneficiaries of the SBS Ghana Demand Driven Facility (DDF) grant, the National Security Ministry and other related stakeholders.
In his keynote address, the Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah said: “The call for enhanced collaboration between government, actors within the security architecture of Ghana, and CSOs toward finding solutions to the security threats confronting our dear country aligns perfectly with the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches advocated by the National Security Strategy that was launched in June last year”.
He further stated: “While the Ghana Immigration Service continues to lead the development of a comprehensive land National Border Security Strategy to enhance the country’s response to emerging border challenges, citizens must be encouraged to own the security of their respective areas”.
European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly said: “The workshop will help government and civil society work together to make Ghana’s borders stronger, safer and more secure from violent extremism and human trafficking”.
The seven CSOs – Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), BOK Africa Concern, Caritas Ghana, University of Education-Winneba, Centre for Migration Studies (University of Ghana-Legon), Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and the African Development Organisation for Migration (AfDOM) – emerged winners of the SBS Ghana first and second Demand-Driven Facility Call for Proposals, launched in November 2020 and June 2021.
“Recent developments in our sub-region are giving credence to why merely enhancing the security of border management cannot be the only antidote to the threat that violent extremists and terrorists pose to the peace and stability of our country. The role of civil society in preventing and combatting violent extremism cannot be overemphasized. For Ghana to succeed, it is critical for the state to engage civil society to actively create awareness; and identify, collect and share early-warning signs with the appropriate state authorities for them to act,” said Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Executive Director-Ghana Integrity Initiative.
The beneficiaries – who received EUTF-funded grants of up to €700,000 – have initiated research and action projects which will highlight innovative approaches and best practices on cross-cutting issues; ranging from border security, trafficking in human beings, anti-corruption and countering violent extremism, among others.
DDF is the second component of the SBS Ghana project that seeks to work closely with civil society organisations, universities, research and training institutions, think-tanks, traders’ organisations and media organisations by inviting them to submit research and action projects highlighting innovative approaches and best practices on mobility and border management.
The workshop brought together over ninety (90) stakeholders drawn from selected CSOs, media, development partners, and migration policymakers and implementers in Ghana.
