By Godfred A. Polkuu
Sandema (U/E), Nov. 21, GNA – Mr Jeffery Adda, Builsa North Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Upper East Region, has re-emphasized the Commission’s commitment to collaborate with stakeholders to combat radicalization of young people and vulnerable in communities.
He said the Commission would work closely with religious bodies and communities to create public awareness on the values of mutual trust, tolerance, confidence building, negotiation, mediation, dialogue, reconciliation with emphasis on indigenous mechanisms for peace building.
Mr Adda who was speaking at a political party youth activist engagement programme on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Sandema, noted that the collaboration would be done with respect to cultural diversity to prohibit extremist religious ideologies, radicalization of the youth and the vulnerable.
“I equally appeal to the traditional leaders to also employ local mechanisms of maintaining peace and peaceful co-existence between and among communities and ethnic groups.
“This is expected to improve citizens’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities as law abiding citizens and their participation in governance to ensure inclusiveness, build national cohesion, a common sense of purpose and stability,” he said.
Mr Adda said the NCCE in 2023, conducted a baseline study on PCVE action in the Northern areas of Ghana, and the youth formed a greater proportion of the respondents that were sampled for the study.
He said the project identified the youth as most vulnerable to violent extremism and indicated that to win the fight against violent extremism, there was the need to depend on the youth’s understanding and involvement in the fight against the menace.
He acknowledged that even though anyone could become an extremist, young people who were in the quest of a sense of identity, purpose, or belonging, may be more susceptible to recruitment into violent extremist groups.
The Director identified that various activities including religious convictions, political ideologies, and prejudices against specific ethnic groups, could serve as its drivers of violent extremist groups.
He said the Commission in the Municipality undertook series of youth engagements as part of planned activities under the European Union (EU) supported PCVE project, on non-violence and radicalization in 75 operational districts of the project.
“Violence and radicalization amongst the youth have become major menace to the global community. Young individuals who are affected may not be aware of what is happening because radicalization is a gradual process.
“Thus, there is a dire need for civic engagements that foster a sense of unity, belonging, and patriotism in the youth to prevent violence and radicalization among them,” Mr Adda said.
“This political party youth engagement today is partly meant to address the tensions being created by the activities of violent extremist groups and prevent the likelihood of democratic relapse,” he said, and appealed to leaders of political parties and religious groups to preach peace and national cohesion in their campaign and sermons, respectively.
Mr David Angaamba, the Principal Program Manager of the Regional Peace Council, who spoke on the role of the youth in promoting peace, peaceful coexistence, and interfaith tolerance, said before the elections, the youth could organize peace campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of peaceful elections.
He said they could utilize social media platforms to disseminate information and counter misinformation, adding that “Engaging in community dialogues can help address grievances and build consensus among diverse groups.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Tabiri, the Municipal Police Commander, admonished the youth not to allow themselves to be used as conduits to perpetrate electoral violence such as snatching of ballot boxes as the law would deal with culprits.
GNA