By Solomon Gumah
Nanton (N/R), Nov 06, GNA -The Nanton District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has engaged youth groups in the area as part of efforts to prevent and contain violent extremism through the promotion of social cohesion.
The youth groups, drawn from various communities, were taken through peaceful coexistence and inter-faith tolerance, triggers and effects of violent extremism, radicalisation and the impact of disinformation, misinformation, and ways they could adopt to resist and withstand the appeal of terrorist groups.
It formed part of the implementation of phase two of the European Union-funded project dubbed: “Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE)”, implemented by the NCCE.
The project is aimed at augmenting the youth’s understanding of peacebuilding mechanisms, social cohesion, community-based mechanisms including identifying early warning signs and basic community-based strategies for countering arms’ proliferation.
Mr Iddrisu Ibrahim, Nanton District Director of NCCE, addressing participants during the engagement at Nanton, said it was important to inculcate in the youth the spirit of patriotism and civic responsibility as well as invoke a sense of belonging to their own immediate community.
He said such actions would enable them to appreciate the negative consequences of joining violent extremist groups and understand the legal framework that barred them from the activities of violent extremist and terrorist groups and become peace ambassadors.
He advised the youth to guard against being used by violent extremists, urging them to volunteer information of suspicious characters and activities of violent extremist groups to the security agencies to enable them to tackle various crimes in the area for peaceful coexistence.
Mr Inusah Iddrisu, Principal Public Education Officer and Investigator, Northern Regional Office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, urged the youth to use non-
violent means in addressing their grievances and not to engage in activities that would fuel violent extremism in the area.
He called for the promotion of rule of law and human rights to ensure harmony in the communities.
Participants, after group discussion sessions on promoting peace and tolerance, pledged their commitment towards safeguarding peace and stability in their communities.
GNA