By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Navrongo (U/E), March 18, GNA – The Upper East Regional Peace Council has organised a sensitisation program on alternative counter-narratives to prevent violent extremism and hate speech for students at St. John Bosco College of Education in Navrongo.
Using comic books as educational tools, the students were equipped with knowledge on how extremist groups manipulate vulnerable individuals and encouraged them to counter such narratives with alternative, peaceful, and factual messages.
The event enlightened the students on dangers of violent extremism while providing them with the knowledge to resist radicalisation, promote peaceful conflict resolution strategies to address grievances and prevent the exploitation of students by extremist groups.
The sensitisation also encouraged students to become agents of peace and advocates for non-violence in their school, create a safe space for students to discuss issues affecting them, and explore how these issues could be channeled into positive action rather than being exploited by violent extremists.
The sensitisation formed part of an activity dubbed “Sensitisation on Alternative Counter-Narratives to Prevent Violent Extremism for Students” under the Atlantic Corridor project, being funded by the governments of Norway, Australia, Germany, and Denmark through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Ali Anankpieng, Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, indicated that the teacher trainees, as educators, had a critical role to play in combating violent extremism and hate speech to maintain peace in their communities and the country.
“The fight against violent extremism is not just for security agencies, it is a collective responsibility. As future teachers, you have a duty to guide and educate the younger generation against extremist ideologies,” he added.
He urged the students to remain vigilant, as extremists often use deceptive narratives to recruit unsuspecting individuals.
Mr Victor Abo-Ame Akanbonga, the Upper East Regional Programs Officer of the Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, called on the students to be proactive in reporting illicit arms possession.
He warned that the proliferation of small arms was a major contributory factor to violence and instability and urged the teacher trainees to support efforts to curb the menace.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kingsley Kanda, the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Commander of the Ghana Police Service, reiterated need for community vigilance and called on the students to promptly report suspicious individuals and activities to the authorities, stressing that security was a shared responsibility.
“Early detection and reporting can help prevent attacks before they happen, and that is why it is important that if you see something unusual, you say something,” he advised.
Mr. Seth Okang, Assistant Analyst at the Paga Sector of the Narcotics Control Commission, cautioned the students against indulging in drug use.
He noted that there were severe legal and health consequences of drug abuse, and offenders could face up to five years in prison for smoking illegal substances such as cannabis, while repeated offenses could result in life imprisonment.
Engineer Michael Atayire, the Student Affairs Officer of the College, thanked the Peace Council for sensitising the students on such critical issues and noted that it would help reinforce peace within the school and create a conducive environment for academic activities.
GNA
FAA/GNA