Accra: Improving access to quality public services has emerged as a critical strategy in preventing violent extremism and fostering peace in Ghana’s northern regions, according to experts leading the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund Project.
According to Ghana News Agency, at a recent capacity-building workshop in Bolgatanga for key stakeholders in the Upper East Region, Dr. Kwasi Owusu Poku, a consultant for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Mapping and Training Exercise, emphasized that inadequate service delivery is a silent but potent driver of frustration, social exclusion, and radicalization in vulnerable communities.
“Extremists don’t always come with weapons. Sometimes they come with promises of fairness, justice, and belonging,” Dr. Poku said. “If our public institutions fail to deliver those, people may start to listen to the wrong voices.”
The Peacebuilding Fund Project, currently being implemented in the Bongo, Garu, and Bawku West Districts, aims to strengthen institutional capacity, improve coordination among service providers, and establish clear referral pathways for rights-based and integrated services.
Jointly led by the UNFPA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the initiative seeks to address the root causes of localized conflicts and vulnerabilities to violent extremism in Northern Ghana, particularly within the Upper East, North East, and Upper West Regions.
Workshop participants included representatives from the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, Department of Social Welfare, security agencies, and traditional authorities, including chiefs and queen mothers. They were trained on strategies for delivering effective services and building trust with communities.
Dr. Poku noted that perceived injustice and neglect-especially when linked to identity factors such as tribe, religion, or gender-can breed resentment and make individuals more susceptible to extremist ideologies.
“If some groups feel consistently underserved while others receive better treatment, it fosters antagonism,” he warned. “And when conflict arises, those groups may not defend the state-they may turn against it.”
He further highlighted poor collaboration among institutions as a persistent challenge, urging stronger inter-agency teamwork and a collective approach to meeting community needs.
“Service providers must stop working in silos. Fragmented efforts only allow people to fall through the cracks,” Dr. Poku said. “A united front is key to building resilient communities.”
The Peacebuilding Fund Project also emphasizes the importance of creating systems that are not only efficient but also fair, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of background, feel seen, heard, and protected.
Implemented through the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, the initiative is part of a broader effort to promote peace and stability in Ghana’s northern corridor, which borders areas affected by extremist violence in the Sahel region.
By enhancing the quality and accessibility of essential public services such as healthcare, education, social welfare, and justice, the project aims to reinforce public trust in state institutions and diminish the allure of extremist narratives.