By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog, GNA
Wiesi (U/E), May 29, GNA – The National Peace Council has cautioned Ghanaians, particularly the youth, against falling prey to online violent extremist narratives being circulated through social media and other digital platforms.
The Council said violent extremist groups were increasingly using online platforms to recruit and radicalise vulnerable people through deceptive messages, misinformation, hate speech and false promises, making it imperative for communities to remain vigilant.
Mr Damien Asobayire, the Upper East Regional Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, issued the caution when he addressed residents of the Wiesi community in the Builsa South District at a one-day sensitisation programme on online violent extremist narratives.
The engagement formed part of activities under the Atlantic Corridor Project, with funding support from the Embassies of Denmark and Norway through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism in vulnerable communities.
Mr Asobayire explained that violent extremists no longer relied solely on physical interactions to recruit people but had shifted significantly to online platforms.
This, he noted, underscored the need to educate community members on the tactics extremists used online and the type of messages they consumed and shared on their mobile phones and social media platforms.
“Most people are not aware that violent extremists can recruit and radicalise people online without physically coming to their communities, and so this training is basically to enable the people to be cautious and guided in their interactions on online media platforms,” he said.
Mr Asobayire explained that extremist groups often employed carefully crafted narratives to lure vulnerable individuals into their networks and urged the public not to fall prey to such violent extremist narratives.
Mr David Atualing Angaamba, the Principal Programme Manager at the Peace Council, added that violent extremist groups also created a false sense of belonging and identity to attract people who felt marginalised or excluded from society.
He said after gaining the trust of recruits, extremists gradually introduced divisive ideologies built around “us versus them” narratives and encouraged recruits to spread extremist content, recruit others, donate money or engage in violent activities.
“Counter narratives directly challenge these extremist messages by exposing their flaws and inconsistencies, while alternative narratives promote peaceful coexistence, inclusiveness, unity and respect for diversity, and that is what we are encouraging people to do,” he advised.
Mr Moses Anankanbil, a participant, lauded the Peace Council for the initiative, noting that he was once a victim of online fraud and that the sensitisation would help prevent others from falling prey.
He said: “I was lured online by a childhood friend with promises of a factory job in France, only to find myself in Ivory Coast after selling my properties to pay for supposed flight tickets and a visa.
“The story changed immediately I got there, but by the grace of God, I am back. If I had received this message earlier, I wouldn’t have fallen for their narrative.
Mr James Ababek, the Assembly Member for the Wiesi Electoral Area, noted that four youth from the community left without informing anyone, and up till today their whereabouts remain unknown.
He said the sensitisation was therefore crucial to the people and commended the Peace Council and its partners.
More than 110 participants, made up of youth, women groups, community leaders and Fulbe settlers from the Wiesi community in the Builsa South District, were sensitised on how to identify and counter violent extremist narratives online.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter; Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Email: [email protected]