By Albert Futukpor
Salaga (S/R), Nov 19, GNA – The East Gonja Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has engaged youth groups from border communities in the area to prevent violent extremism.
The day’s event, which was supported by the European Union as part of the Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism project, was to foster a sense of unity, belongingness and patriotism in the youth to promote peace in this year’s general election.
Mr. Iddrisu Abdul-Latif, East Gonja Municipal Director of NCCE, speaking during the event, said it was to create awareness amongst the youth about the negative consequences of joining violent extremist groups and the need to appreciate the legal framework that barred the activities of violent extremist and terrorist groups in the country.
He said violent extremism posed a significant threat to global security adding, “the alarming trend is the deliberate targeting and radicalisation of young people by extremist groups.”
He said this was more pronounced during election years when political and social tensions were high, and the youth were more engaged in political discourse.
He emphasised: “As we gear up towards the 2024 general election, we should furnish security agencies with any suspicious acts of terrorism to protect the public from any form of threats.”
Mr. Abdul-Rashid Abubakari, a resource person, took participants through national cohesion and peaceful coexistence emphasising the need for all to live harmoniously together.
He encouraged participants to hold and support one another without considering their political, social, ethnic or religious backgrounds.
He said: “We must not allow our few differences to destroy the numerous good things we have in common.”
GNA