The Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC), with support from the German Federal Foreign Office through GIZ, has conducted a community sensitisation exercise and training needs assessment in Chache and Ntereso border communities in the Bole Municipality of the Savannah Region on 19th and 20th May 2025.
This activity forms part of Phase Two of the Mitigation of Destabilisation Effects of Transnational Organised Crime (M-TOC) project, building on Phase One which was implemented in 2024. The project aims to enhance stability and resilience in Ghana’s border regions.
During engagements at the Ntereso and Chache communities, Madam Sarah Ekubah, Director for Policy Plans, and Programmes at the Ghana Boundary Commission, explained that the sensitisation component of the initiative focuses on best practices in mining, transnational organised crime (TOC), and broader border security issues.
She noted that the primary objective is to raise awareness about the environmental and socio-economic threats posed by unlicensed mining and other forms of Transnational Organised Crime (TOC), including smuggling and illegal cross-border activities.
She stated;
“The training needs assessment part of the exercise aims to identify existing and needed vocational skills within the target communities,”
Madam Ekubah said; “This is intended to support the design of tailored skills training programmes that offer sustainable livelihood alternatives, particularly for the youth and vulnerable populations. The goal is to mitigate the appeal of illicit economic activities by enhancing access to decent employment and income-generating opportunities.”
She added that Phase Two of the M-TOC project builds on the successes of Phase One, which was implemented in 2024 in Saru and Dollar Power communities, also in the Savannah Region.
She stated that;
“While Phase One focused on research and community engagement in three border communities, Phase Two targets 17 communities, including Koheniyiri, Kolwong, Bisiyiri, Ntereso, Chache, Nsunia, Chietanga, and Sielaa among others in the Savannah and Upper West Regions”.
The day Two of Ghana Boundary Commission’s Sensitisation and Training was held in Dablakrou.
During an interactive session, community members expressed concerns about illegal gold mining and smuggling.
They also highlighted the destruction of their settlement allegedly caused by the Bui Army, the poor state of roads, and the absence of a school, which they said affects literacy among their children.
Representatives from the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Customs Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency also participated in the engagements.
They urged community members to remain vigilant and report incidents of transnational organised crimes, particularly smuggling, for proper investigation and resolution.
The Commission also committed to facilitating vocational training by providing technical expertise to support youth skills development in the communities.
Source: nkilgifmonline.com
