The Embassy of Norway in Accra and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a new agreement to launch Phase II of the Atlantic Corridor Project, under the initiative “Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism in the Atlantic Corridor.” The project aims to prevent and respond to violent extremism in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, with a strong focus on strengthening community resilience and engagement.

By addressing the root causes of violent extremism—such as youth unemployment, inequality, and governance gaps—the initiative seeks to reduce the vulnerability of communities in the border areas of the coastal states to radicalization leading to violent extremism.

The Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana, John Mikal Kvistad, reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to regional peace and stability, stating:

“Norway is committed to African-led efforts for peace and stability in the Sahel and West Africa. Through this partnership with UNDP, we aim to strengthen community resilience, address root causes of violent extremism, and promote inclusive governance. This reflects Norway’s broader engagement in support of regional cooperation.”

Building on the achievements of the first phase of the project, Norway will contribute NOK 5,000,000 million (approximately USD 488,758.55) to support Phase II (2025–2028). 

The project takes a regional approach to addressing the drivers of radicalization and violent extremism in border communities. It empowers communities by building socio-economic resilience, promoting peace and tolerance, countering extremist narratives, combating hate speech and misinformation, and strengthening both national and local peace infrastructures.

 Mr. Niloy Banerjee, UNDP Resident Representative for Ghana, emphases the importance of partnerships in addressing violent extremism:

“In the face of the threat of violent extremism, we recognise that this partnership—and many others in the pipeline—will help amplify local voices, share knowledge, enhance early warning systems, and build community resilience to counter the influence of violent extremists.”