The National Peace Council has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop in Tempane, Upper East Region, to equip women traders and border security officers with skills to strengthen cross-border security, combat human trafficking, and curb the spread of small arms.
A total of 48 participants drawn from the Basyondy, Warinyanga, and Dintilga markets, as well as security agencies, took part in the training. They were taken through topics including the impact of organised crime on communities, the role of women traders in preventing trafficking, and strategies for enhancing cross-border cooperation.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Border Security and Peacebuilding Mechanisms through Capacity Building for Women Traders, Local Peace Institutions and Border Managers in the Tempane District,” was part of the Gulf of Guinea Project Prevention Facility, supported by Japan through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Damien A. Asobayire, Upper East Regional Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, highlighted the vulnerabilities of border communities such as Tempane, citing illicit trafficking, weak border management, and limited gender-sensitive approaches to peacebuilding. He stressed that women traders, though vital to cross-border economic activity, remain underrepresented in security and peace processes.
“Women engaged in cross-border trade face unique challenges, and it is important to build their capacities so that their voices and experiences can inform our peacebuilding efforts,” Mr Asobayire stated.
He explained that the training would enhance collaboration between women traders and security officers, foster information-sharing networks, and improve early interventions against criminal activities.
Mr Victor Akanbonga, Regional Programmes Officer of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, presented on illicit trafficking and arms proliferation.
He cautioned that illegal possession of firearms could result in fines of up to GH¢12,000 or a minimum of 10 years imprisonment, stressing that unregulated weapons remain a major driver of violence and organised crime.
Tempane District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Joseph Mbabila Ayaaba, commended the Peace Council and its partners for advancing peace and security in the district. He urged participants to share the knowledge acquired with their communities to strengthen resilience and improve local development.
