The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in partnership with the European Union ( EU ) on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023 held an advocacy workshop for media personnels on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism ( PVCE ) from the five Northern regions and three adjoining regions ( Bono, Bono East and Oti ) in Tamale under the theme: “The Role of the media in preventing and containing violent extremism”.
The Media Advocacy Workshop brought together media practitioners comprising editors, Senior journalists, host and producers in the 5 Northern and the 3 adjoining regions to be empowered to be advocates, educators and ambassadors of Violent extremism.
The National framework for preventing and containing violent extremism ( NAFPCVET ) was developed in 2019 to identify the threats posed by terrorists, fight against extremist activities and implement strategies to curb the rate of terrorist attacks in the country.
The media advocacy workshop organized by the National commission for civic education ( NCCE ) with support from the European Union ( EU ) forms part of Ghana’s efforts under the NAFPCVET; to create awareness, sensitize and educate citizens on the threats of violent extremism.
In a welcome address, the National Director of the NCCE, Madam Kathleen Addy explained that the PVCE advocacy workshop for the media who are one of their key stakeholders was very necessary because, the Media through its reportage has a positive role to play especially in the dissemination of information to the public.
She further explained that, the advocacy program was an idea to undertake interventions that will ensure that people in the participating regions, communities and areas have enough community resilience to be able to resist what the now know to be a real terrorist threats that the country faces, adding that, the threats are making it more serious by the fact that there are so many factors in the country that makes the Ghanaian people more vulnerable to terrorist threats.
She urged the media participants at the workshop to be circumspect in their reportage in other not to make the country fall for external threats and also pleaded with them to pay attention to the presentations of the experts and try as much as the can to also learn about the in’s and aims of the project and the threats that the country faces and try to understand the role that the need to play as media personnels to ensure that they do not contribute negatively to the threats.
Madam Kathleen Addy also stated that, the media should consider the nature of the insecurity situations in the Northern sector of the country such as conflicts of war and chieftainy disputes, political disputes and the upcoming elections which are raises tension in the country.
The European Union (EU) funded PCVE training is intended to improve the knowledge and strengthen the capacities of media professionals for effective agenda – setting, reporting and publicity of PCVE activities throughout the country.
This will further make citizens more security conscious and encourage the youth “at risk” not to fall prey to Violent extremists.
Participants were awarded with certificates for participating in the workshop.
The Resource persons for the media advocacy workshop were Dr. Baba Sayuti from the Ministry of National security, Mrs Afua Lamptey from the Kofi Annan Int. peacekeeping centre and H.E. Alhaji Abdul Raman Haruna Atta ( fmr Ambassador to Namibia ).
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
