NCCE engages youth groups in border communities

The Builsa North Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has engaged youth groups across the Municipality as part of measures to prevent and contain violent extremists’ activities.

The engagement was part of the NCCE’s planned activities under the European Union (EU)-supported project dubbed “Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE)” to ensure non-violence, peace, tolerance, and countering violent extremists and vigilantism at the district levels.

It would inculcate in the youth the spirit of patriotism, awareness of civic responsibility, inclusive values, social recognition, and invoke a sense of belonging to their immediate communities.

Speaking at the programme in Sandema, Mr. Jeffrey Adda, Municipal Director, NCCE, said violent extremism posed signicant threat to global security and societal harmony and indicated that the alarming trend was the deliberate targeting and radicalization of young people by extremist groups.

“This issue becomes even more pronounced during election periods, when political and social tensions heightened and the youth more engaged in political discourse,” he noted.

According to him, extremists exploited heightened tensions, used sophisticated propaganda and recruitment strategies to influence and recruit young individuals, especially on social media, noting that young individuals who were affected may not be aware.

He explained that radicalization was a gradual process and that “Despite the fact that anyone can become an extremist, young people who are in quest of a sense of identity, purpose, or belonging may be more susceptible to recruitment into violent extremist groups.”

Mr. Adda, therefore, stressed the dire need for civic engagements that fostered a sense of unity, belonging, and patriotism in the youth to prevent violence and radicalization among them during the 2024 elections.

He said the engagement would enlighten the youth on the negative consequences of joining violent extremist groups and for them to appreciate the legal framework that bared the activities of violent extremist and terrorist groups.

He said the engagement would further inform the youth on the need to collaborate with stakeholders, especially the security agencies to effectively confront the menace through concerted efforts to combat it before, during and after the 2024 elections.

In line with the main objective of PCVE, which was to Prevent and Contain Violent Extremism through the promotion of social cohesion, peace, and tolerance in the five northern regions and other hotspots in Ghana, the Director said the engagement was aimed at ensuring that the youth understood the negative consequences of joining violent extremist groups.

He said it would further enable them to appreciate the legal framework that bared activities of violent extremist and terrorist groups, “Also, as the country prepares for a very crucial election in less than a month, it has become imperative that steps are taken to prevent vote buying, misinformation and disinformation,” he said.

Mr. Adda noted that as Ghana prepared for the upcoming elections, the Commission’s campaign against fake news was critical to safeguard the democratic process through the promotion of media literacy, critical thinking, and responsible information sharing.

He said the campaign aimed to foster a well-informed public capable of making sound electoral choices based on facts and not falsehoods.

“Even though Ghanaians have continued to uphold the supremacy of the constitution, the rule of law, free, vibrant, and a liberalized media landscape, and the promotion of democracy in general, the country cannot afford to lose guard at this crucial moment,” the Director said.

The Builsa North Municipal Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Tabiri, said Ghana was known to be a beacon of peace and democracy in Africa, and urged the youth not to engage in acts that would disturb the peace in the country, especially in the upcoming December 7 elections.

Source: GNA

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