NPC calls for stronger security-community partnerships to prevent conflicts in Upper East

The National Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council (NPC), Dr George Amoh, has called for stronger collaboration, trust and information-sharing between law enforcement agencies and civilian stakeholders to strengthen conflict prevention and address emerging security threats.

He said building a peaceful and secure society required security institutions to work closely with communities, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to identify and address potential threats before they escalate into conflicts.

Dr Amoh made the call during a three-day stakeholder dialogue on “Strengthening Collaboration between Law Enforcement Agencies and Civilian Stakeholders at the REGSEC, DISEC and Community Levels in the Upper East Region.”

The Office of the Technical Advisor to the Minister for the Interior, in partnership with the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in Support of Gulf of Guinea Countries in West Africa, organised the engagement.

Dr Amoh said the NPC’s mandate to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts and to build sustainable peace could be achieved only through strong partnerships among state institutions, security agencies, and communities.

He stressed that communities were important partners in maintaining peace and security, particularly because they were often the first to observe signs of tension, disputes and other developments that could potentially escalate into conflicts.

He cautioned stakeholders against relying solely on media perceptions when assessing conflict trends and determining appropriate responses.

According to him, NPC had recorded more than 600 conflicts in its conflict database, saying the information provided an important evidence base for understanding conflicts and designing appropriate preventive measures.

The Commissioner of Police, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, emphasised the importance of building strong relationships between security institutions and the communities they serve.

She stressed that effective security depended on transparency, mutual respect and sustained engagement, noting that communities were more likely to cooperate with security agencies when trust existed between the two sides.