We need to engender police - community relations to fight crime, prevent violent extremism - NCCE to residents of Canteen

We need to engender police - community relations to fight crime, prevent violent extremism - NCCE to residents of Canteen

As mandated under article 233c of the 1992 constitution,the West Gonja Municipal office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held a sensitization forum with residents of Canteen Electoral Area, suburb of West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region on violent extremism, counter terrorism, corruption and crime prevention.

Addressing a large gathering of community members at the Sunflash Hall in Canteen, the West Gonja Municipal Director of NCCE, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, in a welcome address emphasized the importance of the community engagements in fostering closer ties between civilians and the police, adding that, crime fighting is a shared and collaborative responsibility. 

He urged citizens to take keen interest in understanding the laws of the country and be active participants in the fight against violent extremism, counter terrorism, corruption, nepotism and crime in general in our communities.

The seeming lack of trust, figure pointing between citizens and the security agencies in his estimation, must be cemented to help address the gap in the maintenance of law and order for economic activities.

Mr. Issahaku Zitor, the Savannah Regional Director of NCCE said community members must put aside their political, religious, ideological and tribal differences and work together to counter violent extremism.

According to him, community members must appreciate the enormity of the problem at hand and come to a common understanding that our biggest enemy in society today is the fight against poverty, protracted chieftaincy disputes, farmer - cattle herder impass, excruciating hardship among others.

He said violence is never the answer, exhorting community folks to see violent extremism as something that is more closer to us than it's far, citing Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria as classical examples. 

The West Gonja Municipal Commander of police, ASP Mr. Charles Aniagyei said the integrity of the police will always dictate community trust and help reduce tension, conflict and counter violent extremism. 

He said there is the need to come to a mutual understanding of the challenges, build partnership, open and honest communication to build a police service where everyone feel respected, valued and accepted. 

ACP Aniagyei regrets the actions of some unethical officers which is fast obliterating the trust between the police and citizens.

He called for effective community support towards crime combating in the form of vigilantism and community watchdogs.

AEMT Gideon Antwi, West Gonja Municipal Manager of the National Ambulance Service assured of the availability of security officers to partner communities in the fight against violent extremism.

Chiefs and opinion leaders of Canteen lauded NCCE for the lovely and timely engagement, using the opportunity to ask relevant questions, and seek clarifications on some matters of community concerns.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

Laribanga Imam donates mathematical sets, offers special prayers for 2024 final year BECE candidates

Laribanga Imam donates mathematical sets, offers special prayers for 2024 final year BECE candidates

The Chief Imam for the Laribanga Community in the West Gonja Municipal, Alhaji Mumuni Zanakawa has donated complete Mathematical sets and offered special prayers for all the final year students in the Laribanga Electoral Area.

This he said was his little contribution towards supporting the students to write their exams well and produce better results for the community.

At a short ceremony to hand over the items, the religious leader admonished the students to imbibe the spirit of hardwork, respect for their teachers and discipline, adding that, “discipline and the fear of God are key ingredients to success in life”.

Whilst encouraging parents to invest heavily in the education of their wards, he ask the school pupils to hasten slowly in life, be patient and take their studies very seriously since, the future belongs to them.

He offered special prayers for all the candidates and expressed confidence in the ability of the students to make the Laribanga community very proud in the impending Examination.

The Assemblyman for the Laribanga Electoral Area, honourable Karim Amidu, thanked the Imam for his continuous support to the Laribanga Community, noting that this was not the first time he was rolling out such an intervention.

He requested for special prayers for the students and the teachers, cautioning the children against indulging in any exam malpractices.

He said the only sure-way to the future is hardwork, diligence and the support of God, urging the students not to relax but continue to work hard towards achieving their ultimate goal.

The Assemblyman who spoke to this writer used the moment to wish the students the very best of luck in their exams , pledging the full support of the community.

On behalf of the students and various schools,the headmasters expressed gratitude to the Iman for the kind gesture and encouraged the pupil to put the materials into good use.

This is the third time the Chief Imam was making such donations after assuming the office of Chief Imamship of Laribanga in July 2021.

Source: Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

7th December, John Dramani Mahama, in the year and rescue of our country

7th December, John Dramani Mahama, in the year and rescue of our country

As an avowed optimist, I awoke to a sudden exclesiastic reflection of the date in caption. Coming events says Thomas Campbell, cast their shadows before, but as the days of reckoning fast approach,let past events guide our steps therefore.

Need i say, our democracy is in total insolvency and a state of avoidable ugliness. The captivity and traction of God's people invites a rescue for national reconstruction.

In my forlorn dismay,nay, in my unending imagination, someone whispered to my ears, "the regime which is breaking at 8 is simply wicked, and insensitive". Suddenly, my mind's eye fell into a deep trance reminiscing on the  book of proverbs which says, The truth is, “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices” (Prov 11:10a), and “when the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Prov 29:2). We are groaning! We are at the crossroads bewailing!Our nation is weeping and bleeding!

It is well to say it is our chosen path, we chose to suffer, the very day we chose this path for ourselves, since  we are the only one's that choose our way and not God. Voices of reason were silent when the nation needed them most.

Now, we are here alone in the wilderness, wailing unheard for a driver whose mate has since abondoned him midway. A sinking nation to rescue.

It is sunset and I'm still here memorizing the rescue date solemnly, whereupon it dawned on me that we will awake to a chance to make amends for the past error of the thumb in our national struggle for reconstruction. Silent voices of reason must awake from slumber.

For It's fast approaching the day of reckoning. Where the sovereign God will hold our leaders accountable through his chosen vessels.A will that will be too strong to be subverted. 

Where corruption and ungodly leadership have begotten our nation like never before, we will make amends. For it is God Who “changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings” (Dan 2:21a).

On that day, I have high hopes that posterity will endure and be rebirthed in the eyes of righteousness. And the blood of the innocent spilled will be upon their heads like a cursed legacy.

God's people will be liberated from the shackles of untold suffering, blistering poverty, unbridled corruption, tectonic prebendalism and the misrule of somewhat deities.

The wind of change shall blow like whirlwind. And at the chirpings of the birds, the agony of God's forgotten servants shall be brought to light. The silent righteous shall bow in shame. The nation shall rise again!

Over taxation, unbearable national debt, general insecurity, immorality and rape of the public purse will saccumb to the power of God's people.

When all is said and done, we shall gather at the fireside to construct our own paths, to redefine our own aspirations and destinies and to build the Ghana we all want and desire.

And i will still be here as your humble servant from the woodlots, defending the course of freedom and justice.

Laughter shall fill our hearts again and progress shall not be discriminatory.

We shall awake do this for mother Ghana for that is what our forbears demand of us.

Here i come, in peace, and in one accord.

Shalom!

Ananpansah Bartholomew Abraham

(Village writer/blogger/political watcher)

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