By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Garu (UE), April 25, GNA – The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in collaboration with RISE-Ghana and the National Youth Authority (NYA), has organized a youth parliamentary debate in the Garu District of the Upper East Region to raise awareness and mobilize action against violent extremism.
The debate, held on the theme: “Youth participation as an effective tool in preventing violent extremism: The role of youth in picking signals for effective engagement with relevant authorities for action,” aims to strengthen youth parliamentary chapters and engage young people in combating insecurity and violent extremism.
The debate sought to prevent and address root causes of localized and spillover conflicts and vulnerabilities to violent extremism, while tackling emerging threats of violent extremism and insecurity across the district.
The engagement formed part of the “Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract through the Empowerment of Women and Youth in Three Northern Regions of Ghana,” being funded by the United Nations (UN) Peacebuilding Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Mr Mohammed Awal, Research Manager at CDD-Ghana and Coordinator of the project, addressing the participants, emphasised importance of creating platforms for the youth to participate in democratic processes and contribute meaningfully to peacebuilding efforts.
He said the understanding of the youth on the activities of violent extremists was key to limiting the infiltration of extremist ideologies, hence the opportunity for the youth to contribute to reducing political violence and vigilantism.
Mr Awal noted that the youth and other vulnerable groups like women were the most affected in any instability and underscored need for collective efforts in building peaceful, safe and progressive communities through active civic participation.
He encouraged the youth to use the debate as a platform to influence governance through engagement, adding that key concerns raised would be considered at the district and regional levels to resolve local challenges and strengthen governance structures.
Mr Francis Takyi-Koranteng, the Upper East Regional Director of the NYA, highlighted that the youth remained primary targets for violent extremist groups and charged them to be vigilant and advance the education on the prevention of violent extremism among their communities.
He said the youth’s understanding of how violent extremist groups operate would not only enable them to guard against being manipulated into committing crimes, but would save the limited resources for development, which otherwise would have been channeled into peacekeeping while depriving communities of basic necessities.
Mr Alhassan Fuseini, Human Resource Manager at the Garu District Assembly, commended CDD-Ghana and its partners for the initiative, describing it as timely and strategic.
He said the Assembly was committed to partnering with organisations to foster peace and called on the youth to take ownership of the opportunity by deepening public education and engagement around violent extremism and social cohesion.
The project is being implemented in Garu, Bawku West and Bongo Districts of the Upper East Region; Chereponi, Bunkpurugu and Yunyoo Districts in the North East Region; and Wa West and Sissala West in the Upper West Region.
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