Bawku Conflict: Mistrust in security personnel may stall peace process – Dr Victor Doke

Dr. Victor Doke, a security lecturer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, is worried about Bawku's peace process. He believes it could face major setbacks without rebuilding trust between the community and security personnel.

In an interview on AM Show with JoyNews, Dr. Doke emphasized that distrust in security forces can undermine lasting peace efforts. Security personnel should build confidence by protecting the community from attacks.

When trust is broken, people may see security forces as a threat instead of protectors. Dr. Doke stated, “The main purpose of having security forces is to ensure that people trust them.”

He added that if a security person attacks someone while they go about their business, it creates fear. This leads to the perception that they do not protect life or maintain order.

Dr. Doke also expressed concerns about security forces who ignore local customs and traditional leaders' authority while promoting peace-building. Disregarding these traditions increases mistrust and tensions within the community.

“If security forces engage in peace-building but ignore local norms or act against directives from chiefs, incidents will occur,” he warned.

He stressed that cooperation from the local population is essential for peace in Bawku. This cooperation requires mutual respect and understanding between communities and security personnel.

“The people will not trust security personnel if they insist on doing things their own way,” Dr. Doke noted. He explained that broken trust leads to a lack of vital information from the community, escalating tensions further.

To achieve lasting peace in Bawku, Dr. Doke urged security forces to rebuild trust by honoring local traditions and collaborating with traditional leaders.

"Without this effort, conflict resolution may continue to struggle," he concluded.