Fatima Anafu-Astanga
Zuarungu U/E Nov. 25, GNA – The youth in the Bolgatanga East District have been engaged by the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) on processes to prevent them from involving themselves in any form of violence in the run up to the general elections and thereafter.
The civic engagement fosters unity, belongingness and patriotism; and it was held at Zuarungu.
It was attended by youth from polling areas including, Kunkua, Yarigabiisi, Dachio, Zuarungu, Polgo, Zuarungu Moshie, Kumbosigo, Kantia among other communities with the aim at preventing, and containing violent extremism (PCVE) through the promotion of social cohesion, peace and tolerance in the district and other hotspots.
Madam. Sadia Baba Sampana ,District Director of NCCE in a welcome address, decried the alarming trend of deliberate targeting of youth by extremist groups.
“Extremists exploit these tensions using sophisticated propaganda and recruitment strategies to influence and recruit young individuals, who may not be aware of the dangers,” she noted.
She expressed appreciation to the people of the area for the peace enjoyed over the years, but admonished the youth to be ambassadors for continuous peace in the area as the elections drew close.
Madam Sampana expressed appreciation to the European Union for supporting the youth engagement activities of the NCCE on PCVE.
District Superintendent of Police (DSP) in charge of the Zuarungu Police Command, Charles Simpa, reiterated that Ghanaians are not a superior people and cannot be left out of countries that suffered terrorists’ attacks in the face of global threats that impacted every country.
He pointed out that the porous nature of Ghana borders and indicated that countries such as Togo. Mali Burkina Faso and La Cote D’Ivoire and Mali are suffering the Jihadists and terrorism threats
DSP Sampana stressed the need to guard against acts that will enable such extremists to infiltrate the country’s peace.
“These are challenges of our region, especially the Upper East Region together with chieftaincy issues that increased the volatility of the region,” Mr. Sampana.
He added that the NCCE organising the engagement meeting was not out of place as it was meant to discuss and share knowledge on the issues that threaten Ghana’s democracy.
He gave assurance that the Police Service would continue with its mandate to protect property and lives during the elections.
He urged the participants not to allow themselves to be used by any politicians to cause fights among themselves but maintain their posture and avoid politics of insults during the elections and advised them not to let the elections be a “do-and-die affair.”
Mr. Michael Awuni, District Coordinating Director of the Assembly noted the tendency of politicians to stir violence and cautioned the youth to be mindful of such.
Alhaji Chief Issah Ibrahim, Director of integrated Youth Needs and Welfare (NTYON) and the chairperson of the Inter Party Dialogue Committee, also took the participants through exercises that would guide and guard them against violence.
GNA