National Commission for Civic Education’s (NCCE) Savannah Regional Director, Mr. Issaka Zitor, is appealing to Ghanaians to embrace and help sustain the peace the country is experiencing by reporting any suspicious behavior of people to the right authorities to help curb the infiltration of Violent Extremists. He also, urges Ghanaians to assist the security agencies and other stakeholders to consolidating the four (4) mutually reinforced pillars established to focus on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Ghana.
According to him the mutually reinforced four (4) pillars established to to focus on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism are Prevent, Pre-empt, Protect and Respond.
When Ghanaians responsibly report suspicious acts of Violent Extremists to the necessary authorities, actions will be taken to prevent Violent Extremism. This will lead authorities to Pre-empt, protect and possibly take respond, when necessary to foil any acts that will disturb the peace of Ghana.
Mr. Zitor made the appeal on Damongo based Community radio station, PAD FM’s (95.1) Sunrise Morning Show ( Kareyenchea Morning Show) on Monday, 26th February, 2024, whilst ensitizing and educating residents of the area on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) in the five regions of the northern zone and other spots in Ghana.
Mr. Zitor commended all stakeholders , Ghanaians and international partners for their roles played so far in keeping the country safe and disclosed that NCCE with support from the European Union (EU) is continuing the awareness creation and sensitization on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) in the five Northern regions and other hot spots in Ghana.
He said the NCCE is currently airing PCVE jingles on some radio stations, community information centers, cinema shows in selected schools and communities and media engagements across the Savannah region.
Again, he admonished residents to promote social cohesion and participation in the fight against violent extremism.
He raised concern on opportunities such as unemployment, land disputes and high poverty that Violent Extremists may take advantage of to recruit people to achieve their nefarious objective.
Mr. Zitor advised that peaceful coexistence, tolerance, dialogue and the use of peaceful mechanisms in resolving disputes would attract investors leading to creation of employment opportunities for the youth.
Vigilance, sharing relevant information on suspicious characters with the security agencies and other stakeholders, are key activities in preventing and containing violent extremism in the region.
Mr. Zitor added that personal of the security agencies are inadequate, therefore citizens participation is necessary in the fight against violent extremism. Awareness on the menace of violent extremism, early warning signals of radicalization and the role citizens should play in preventing and containing violent extremism is necessary in sustaining peaceful coexistence in Ghana.
He called on the media fraternity, security agencies NGOs and the general public to collaborate in the fight against violent extremism in Ghana.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MfWA) has been organizing a series of capacity-building training workshops on countering mis/disinformation and polarising narratives ahead of the general elections in Ghana.
The capacity-building intervention will equip at least 100 journalists in Ghana with the skills to combat mis/disinformation and propaganda. The beneficiary journalists have been selected from the Northern, Savannah, Bono East, Upper East, Upper West and Greater Accra regions.
The training workshops are being organised with funding support from the US Embassy.
Ghana will go to the polls in December 2024 to elect President and Members of Parliament.
Mr Zitor appealed to the hearts and minds of leaders of political parties and youth activists to campaign on issues to halt conflicts in the region. Politics should be a contest of ideas and not attacks and killings.
Abdulai Zulkaninu/0242381890
