Salaga: The Inclusive Community Empowerment (ICE) project has been launched to build the capacity of staff at the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, with the aim of enhancing community resilience as a crucial step towards achieving social cohesion in the area. The six-month initiative also seeks to promote peaceful coexistence through inclusive community empowerment.
According to Ghana News Agency, residents of Kafaba, a farming community within the municipality, will benefit from the project. The initiative will utilize capacity-building workshops, public sensitization campaigns, and structured community dialogues to prevent violent extremism in the area. The ICE project, conducted by the Total Life Enhancement Centre-Ghana (TOLEC-GH), a psychology-focused NGO, is part of the Preventing Violent Extremism and Supporting Peace in the Northern Border Regions of Ghana initiative, implemented by COGINTA Ghana and funded by the European Union.
Mr. Peter Mintir Amadu, the Executive Director of TOLEC-GH, stated at the launch in Salaga, Savannah Region, that the project aims to enhance citizens’ awareness and participation in promoting peaceful communities while addressing the threats posed by violent extremist groups. The event gathered key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, local government representatives, community members, and civil society organizations, to strengthen civic engagement and gender-sensitive approaches to conflict prevention.
Mr. Amadu emphasized that the project seeks to empower communities through education and dialogue, promoting inclusive participation and equipping citizens with tools to counter radical influences. Additionally, the ICE project is designed to address the root causes of community tensions and vulnerabilities, fostering civic actions that reinforce social harmony.
Madam Patience Somah, the Gender Desk Officer at the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, who chaired the launch, highlighted the project’s potential to positively impact gender-related issues, violent extremism, and mental health and psychosocial support services, while ensuring inclusivity, resilience, and community empowerment.
Mr. Godsway Bismark Ayivor, Chairman of the Ewe ethnic community in Kafaba, praised TOLEC-GH’s approach of incorporating mental health into peacebuilding advocacy campaigns as strategic and inclusive, noting that it would help promote communal peace and stability.