Civilians urged to be proactive with security issues

Civil Society groups and civilians in general have been called upon to play active role in the maintenance of peace and security in the country.

Mr. Justin Bayor, National Coordinator of the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP-GHANA) said civilians were directly involved with the people and could therefore pick up early warning signals and report to the appropriate security agencies for quick response.

Speaking at the second Interface Western Regional meeting on GHANAWARN for some selected government institutions and security agencies at Takoradi in the Western Region, Mr. Bayor added that security in the Region had become an issue of great concern.

GHNANWARN is a web-based system designed to assist the security and peace analysts with timely information on security threats in various parts of the country.

Mr Bayor said WANEP-Ghana had been operating an electronic human security early warning system since 2008 with the aim of preventing and responding to violent conflicts in a proactive manner.

He added that with the discovery of oil and gas in the Region with its resultant influx of people, issues of human security must not be toiled with and called on stakeholders in the Region to take proactive measures.

Security concerns currently in the Region border on joblessness, homosexuality, prostitution, weapons usage, galamsey activities (illegal mining) and land acquisition.

The following communities were also identified as conflict prone areas in the Region – Sefwi Wawso, Egyambra (Ahanta West), Princess Town (Akatakyi), Akwidaa, Egyen, Bamiankor, New Takoradi, Toleku-Bokazo, Bolyere, Kalo/Dadiso, Mpohor, Benso and Sekyere-Krobo.

Mr. Bayor also called on the Region to carefully manage the expectations of its inhabitants particularly with the oil find as a measure to stopping urban violence.

Source: GNA