GCERF reinforces partnership with govt: Strengthening peace and resilience in Ghana

A delegation from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), led by the Board Chairman Mr. Stefano Manservisi, visited Ghana to discuss collaborative efforts in countering violent extremism.

During the visit, the team paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the Minister for National Security, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, and the National Security Coordinator, Mr. Edward Asomani, to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation.

As part of their itinerary, the GCERF team first paid a courtesy call on the Minister for National Security, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, and the National Security Coordinator, Mr. Edward Asomani.

The meeting provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss Ghana’s current security landscape and the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the country.

During the meeting, Mr. Manservisi highlighted Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful nation and emphasized the importance of leveraging collaboration with GCERF to sustain this peace. He emphasized the role of GCERF in supporting local initiatives aimed at preventing violent extremism and building community resilience. Additionally, Mr. Manservisi underscored GCERF’s collaboration with the Human Security Directorate of the Ministry of National Security on non-kinetic approaches in the fight against terrorism and building community resilience, further demonstrating the organization’s commitment to enhancing Ghana’s security landscape.

In his remarks, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah warmly welcomed Mr. Manservisi to Ghana and congratulated him on his extended term as Chair of GCERF.

He expressed optimism that Mr. Manservisi’s leadership would contribute significantly to achieving global security objectives through the Fund’s initiatives.

The Minister stressed the need to urgently address the worsening security situation in the sub-region due to terrorist activities. He emphasized Ghana’s pivotal role in maintaining peace amid regional challenges and urged both domestic and international actors to prioritize security.

Mr. Kan-Dapaah reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to mobilizing regional and global efforts to counterterrorism and violent extremism, citing initiatives like the Accra Initiative as crucial for collaboration among African States.

He highlighted Ghana’s alignment with the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in its counter-terrorism efforts, emphasizing inclusiveness and ownership in addressing root causes. Lastly, the Minister expressed Ghana’s readiness to collaborate with GCERF in combating terrorism and violent extremism, emphasizing the importance of such cooperation in promoting security within the sub-region and beyond.

During day two of the visit, the GCERF team had the honour of meeting with the President at the Jubilee House. The discussion centered on the security situation in the sub-region and Ghana’s efforts in combating terrorism. Mr. Manservisi, on behalf of GCERF, informed the President of an intended grant amounting to $3,000,000.00. This grant is specifically aimed at supporting Ghana’s fight against terrorism and radicalization through non-kinetic approaches, with a focus on building resilience in vulnerable communities. The grant signifies a commitment to enhancing collaboration between Ghana and GCERF in addressing the complex challenges posed by terrorism and violent extremism.

The final phase of their visit, the GCERF team convened at the Accra Initiative Secretariat for a pivotal meeting.

Deliberations centered on exploring potential collaboration between GCERF and the Accra Initiative (AI) to mobilize other member countries.

The primary focus was to secure funding for interventions aimed at bolstering the fight against terrorism in the sub-region.

Mr. Manservisi emphasized the necessity of unified efforts in combating terrorism, stressing the importance of collective action to achieve tangible results.

It is worthy of note that GCERF is an international organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. Since 2014, GCERF has funded over 80 community-based projects in 22 African countries, addressing drivers of violent extremism like poverty and lack of education.

They collaborate closely with local governments, civil society, and regional organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to ensure project sustainability.

GCERF prioritizes empowering women and youth in conflict-affected communities and conducts rigorous monitoring and evaluation of its projects to assess impact and share best practices.

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