{"id":8061,"date":"2026-03-30T12:53:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africansecuritynetwork.org\/HSGO4\/?page_id=8061"},"modified":"2026-03-30T13:26:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:26:05","slug":"preventing-and-countering-violent-extremism-pcve","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/africansecuritynetwork.org\/HSGO4\/index.php\/preventing-and-countering-violent-extremism-pcve\/","title":{"rendered":"Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Ghana has remained relatively insulated from direct violent extremist attacks; however, spillover risks from the Sahel, regional political instability, porous borders, governance deficits, and persistent socioeconomic inequalities continue to increase the country\u2019s vulnerability.<\/p>

In response, the government adopted the National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism (NAFPCVET) and implemented multi-level initiatives supported by security institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, and community actors. These measures include strengthened border patrols and surveillance through \u201cOperation Conquered Fist,\u201d the establishment of Forward Operating Bases in vulnerable areas, capacity-building programmes, public awareness campaigns, and enhanced community engagement, including interfaith dialogue. They also encompass targeted economic development initiatives for northern regions and initial support to the pastoral sector through restructuring and dialogue with pastoral communities, particularly Fulani groups.<\/p>

At the regional level, Ghana promotes a coordinated and solidarity-based approach to counter terrorism and drivers of violent extremism, notably through its leadership in establishing the Accra Initiative, a subregional security cooperation framework. However, the Initiative’s effectiveness has been significantly undermined by the growing tensions between ECOWAS and the military regimes that have taken power across the Sahel. Domestically, decentralisation and administrative reorganisation have enabled a denser territorial security network, while specialized counterterrorism and special forces units have been redeployed to northern border areas, supported by enhanced surveillance and border control capacities.<\/p>

DEFINING<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>PCVE<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>

Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE)<\/strong> refers to policies, initiatives and measures intended at dissuading groups and individuals from engaging in violent extremist acts. PVE focuses on prevention making use of human-security oriented measures to prevent radicalization whilst ensuring social cohesion and trustful relations between communities and state actors through community dialogues and engagements.<\/p>

This differs from Countering Violent Extremism (CVE),<\/strong> which traditionally refers tonmeasures and initiatives that are directed at disrupting planned attacks and recruitment activities. It utilizes security measures aimed at individuals and groups that are already in the web of radicalization.<\/p>

Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)<\/strong> is therefore a wholistic approach that integrates both preventive (PVE) and countering (CVE) measures to address the whole gamut of the threat from conditions that lead to radicalization to the reality of extremist violence.<\/p>

GHANA\u2019S<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>P\/CVE<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>ARCHITECTURE<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>

Ghana has a structured architecture for preventing and countering violent extremism. The National\u00a0Security\u00a0Council\u00a0Secretariat\u00a0coordinates\u00a0governments\u00a0P\/CVE\u00a0efforts\u00a0with\u00a0other\u00a0security and intelligence agencies, Ministries, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the National Peace Council (NPC), and the National Commission Civic Education\u00a0(NCCE).<\/p>

National<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>Security<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>Council<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>Secretariat<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>

Ghana\u2019s National Security Council Secretariat, predating the former the Ministry of National Security,\u00a0serves\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0central\u00a0body\u00a0for\u00a0managing\u00a0current,\u00a0emerging,\u00a0and\u00a0future\u00a0security threats. In 2019, it developed the National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism (NAFPCVET) under the direction of the National Security Council, structured around four pillars:<\/p>