A Professor of Peace and Conflict Resolution at Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), Professor Samuel Marfo, has emphasised the importance of good civilian-security relations in promoting peace.

Prof. Marfo, also a member of the Upper West Regional Peace Council, believes that security is a shared responsibility and can be costly. He emphasised the need for civilians and security agencies to work together to address issues before they escalate.

During a programme in Tumu in the Sissala East Municipality, Prof. Marfo discussed the theme: “Promoting civilian security engagement for collaboration for early warning to prevent conflicts and violent extremism in the Upper West Region.”

This engagement is part of the Atlantic Corridor Project, funded by the National Peace Council, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prof. Marfo stressed the importance of understanding each other's perspectives to build strong civilian-security relations. He believes this unity is crucial for civilians to feel comfortable reporting suspicious activities or early warning signs to security agencies.

He advised civilians to verify information before reporting to prevent false alarms that could damage trust between them and security services.

The Executive Secretary of the Upper West Regional Peace Council, Emmanuel Danyomah, highlighted the need for collaboration between civilians and security services to address recent security threats and prevent extremists from exploiting conflicts.

He expresses gratitude to donors for the project and hopes it will improve the reporting of early warning signals and enhance relations between civilians and security services.

The Sissala East Municipal Coordinating Director, Limann Alhassan, acknowledged the challenges faced by the Municipality in resolving disputes and maintaining security due to porous borders. He assured that the Assembly and security services are committed to protecting the Municipality from external threats.

Participants were encouraged to report any suspicious activities to help maintain peace in the Municipality. The Peace Council and its donors were also commended for their efforts in sustaining peace.

Maulvi Isshaque Yakubu of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission urged security personnel to interact professionally with civilians to improve relations. He emphasised the importance of treating civilians with respect and professionalism.

Topics covered during the program include the rationale for civilian-security engagement, principles of engagement (reporting, communication, accountability), and challenges in civilian-security relations.