By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Garu (U/E), Nov 11, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has urged the youth to foster peace and tolerate dissenting views to ensure smooth presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024.
Mr Samuel Akolgo, the Garu District Director of the Commission, advised the youth to resist attempts and influence by politicians to foment trouble before, during and after the elections.
“As the nation gears up to the 2024 elections, it is imperative to foster a culture of peace and tolerance among the youth,” he said.
Mr Akolgo was speaking during an engagement with some youth in Garu as part of the NCCE’s activities to prevent electoral violence, particularly in the impending general election.
It is part of the Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) Project, being implemented by the NCCE in eight regions of Ghana, with funding from the European Union.
The engagement was also to enlighten the youth on the activities of violent extremists and how they could resist attempts to be recruited into those groups to destabilise the country.
The programme, on the theme: “Together we can build Ghana, so get involved”, required the collective efforts of all to maintain the prevailing peace.
Mr Akologo said violent extremism remained a global security threat and it was imperative for Ghana not to create grounds for the extremists to exploit and carry out their agenda and urged the youth to tolerate each other, respect and use non-violent means to resolve their differences.
“There is a dire need for civic engagements that foster a sense of unity, belonging, and patriotism in the youth, to prevent violence and radicalisation among them during the 2024 election,” he added.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Victor Gakpey, the Garu District Police Commander, who took the youth through the triggers and effects of violent extremism, peaceful coexistence and inter-faith tolerance, assured the youth that plans had been advanced to protect the country and the people before, during and after the general election.
Mr Awam Mohammed, a teacher with the Ghana Education Service, took the youth through online radicalisation, mis/disinformation and fake news.
He advised them against using hate speeches against one another, which had the potential to create tension during the electioneering period.
Reverend Dr Philip Azumah, the Garu District Inter-Party Dialogue (IPDC) Chairman, urged Ghanaians to foster religious and ethnic tolerance to ensure peaceful and harmonious living.
He said despite their political, religious, and ethnic differences, they were one people with a common destiny, hence the need to maintain social cohesion to promote sustainable development.
Mr Sampson Azure, the Assistant District Coordinating Director, Garu District Assembly, urged the youth to be united and fight for the development of their various communities and desist from activities that could ruin their future.
GNA