The National Catholic secretariat of the Ghana Bishops Conference and the Catholic Relief Services(CRS) under the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI) organised a community dialogue meeting through its Justice and Peace Commission of the Good shepherd Parish on Friday,27th April, 2023 in Tuna.
The town hall meeting was held at the forecourt of the Tuna Catholic Church in Tuna.
Leadership of the youth groups, students, teachers, assembly members, clergy,politicians, NCCE, and the media were all present.
In a welcome address, the Parish Priest of the Tuna Good Shepherd Parish, Rev. Fr. David J. Bakari said there was the need to promote peaceful coexistence in our communities.
He said that Ghana, like many other countries, is facing significant treats from violent extremist groups.
Rev. Bakari further stated that the nature of our porous borders with our neighbouring countries, coupled with ongoing land, chieftaincy, and inter-religious conflicts, have created a fertile ground for the recruitment and radicalization of the vulnerable youth by these extremist groups as leaders of the society and that everyone must embrace Peace and unity to promote development.
Chairman of the the program, who doubles as the Chief of Tuna, Tunawura Sarfo Amantana, said everyone must embrace unity and togetherness. He said we have allowed politicians to disunite us as a people.
He said that if we live without partisan conflict,tribal conflict, avoiding discrimination and theft issues, Ghana will forever live peacefully devoid of any conflict extremism. He advised the general public to be obedient and stop all conflict related issues so that no terrorist will capitalise on the violence and attack us.
Supretendent Ahiekpor Edem Eddison, second in command of the Ghana Immigration Service of the Bole sector command in the Savannah Region, took time to explain to the people gathered about violent extremism.
He said that he was very grateful for the town hall meeting in Tuna and that, on occasions as this, it offers them the opportunity to educate the people in the various communities about violent extremism and terrorism, a situation he said was with us already.
The second in command of the Bole Immigration Service for the Bole sector command added that there are push and pull factors, luck of employment, and conflicts that are pushing people to form an association to fight each other.
He appealed to the Chiefs to use the judiciary system to resolve differences. He further stated that if the chiefs are not united, they terrorist could infiltrate to cause havoc.
Supretendent Ahiekpor Edem Eddison appealed to the communities to be vigilant and assist the security in combating crime. He said the Ghana Immigration Service is doing its best in the Bamboi to Kalba stretch even though they have limited personnel’s.
He said Ghana Immigration Service will establish a base in Kpali to take care of Gbiniyiri and that their men are at Kalban taking care of Saru, Volvo, and Taglayiri in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region.
Source: nkilgifmonline.com
