Issaka Zitor, Savannah regional director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has said it is necessary to upgrade the skills of tertiary schools in Ghana with the necessary information on preventing Violent Extremism (VE) to help them become aware of its threat to society and also make tertiary students influencers toward combatting the Violent Extremism in Ghana. He said this during the NCCE’s engagement with students and staff of Damongo Agriculture College on Wednesday 16th October, 2024, at the school auditorium.
Issaka Zitor noted “the objective of these engagements is to equip the students with the relevant information on preventing and containing violent extremism to enable them become role models and influencers against Violent Extremism and Terrorism in their circles and communities they come from.
Most importantly, this activity aims to engage students on the need for social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, preventing vote-buying and violence before, during and after the 2024 elections. Again, it focuses on empowering the ‘at-risk groups’ to resist and withstand the appeal of terrorism”.
He noted that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is embarking on the second phase of sensitization sessions for tertiary-level institutions across the Savannah region. This activity is part of the European Union (EU) sponsored Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) Actions in the Northern Regions and other hot spots in Ghana.
Violent Extremism and Terrorism continue to remain a serious threat for the preservation of Democratic Governance, peace, prosperity and safety in the country. Ghana has achieved successful conduct of Presidential and Parliamentary Elections eight (8) times in succession and peaceful transition and transfer of political power from a ruling party to an opposition party in 2000, 2008 and 2016 respectively.
The theme for the year 2024 is “Together we can Build Ghana: So, Get involved”. The NCCE believes that, building a strong, vibrant and peaceful Ghana requires the contribution of its citizens. The NCCE’s key pillars driving the civic engagements for peaceful 2024 General Elections include; misinformation, disinformation and fake news, money in politics (vote buying), and religious and ethnic tolerance, and electoral violence.
The National Commission for Civic Education, has a mandate to formulate, implement and oversee programmes intended to inculcate in the citizens of Ghana awareness of their civic responsibilities and an appreciation of their rights and obligations as free people in Ghana.
Issaka Zitor cautioned the public to fact-check social media information received before forwarding to groups or colleagues and appealed to them to report suspicious characters to the right stakeholders
Bismarck Seidu, the National Security Coordinator for the Savannah region, echoed the need to promote religious tolerance amongst students to slow down on acts leading to extremism. When one becomes so firm on religious stance instead of dialoguing, it can lead to Violent Extremism, he said.
He commended the strong relationship between the people of Ghana and the security services for working together and sharing information toward preventing Violent Extremism, saying “Ghanaians are very vigilant and it is one of the reasons why we are enjoying peace in the country”.
In the recent past, some West African neighbors to Ghana have experienced Coup d’etat s. That’s a change of government through the gun but Ghana is not experiencing such things because the people are vigilant.
Bismarck Seidu further called on the public to report suspicious characters to the security agencies and right stakeholders to assist the country keep up with its strategies at combatting Violent Extremism.
Bismarck Seidu noted that political extremism, religious extremism, social extremism, economic extremism, amongst others can lead to Coup d’etat and so the public should always resolve issues through dialogue to avert Violent Extremism.
Acts such as non-dialogue, bad governance or leadership, holding firm to one’s position (radicalism) can cause or bring about Violent Extremism.
See something say something, obeying instructions of kidnappers, calling security toll free line 999 and defending oneself if possible are some of the ways citizens can implore to help protect themselves and their communities in the country.
ASP Wisdom, the crime officer of the Bole police command appealed to the public to make the police their number one friend. This is because when one is under attack the first point of call is the police service. He said there are a lot of benefits in making friends with the police since the police interact with the public on daily basis.
“It is not by choice to be friends with the police, it is a necessity. Your first point of call when you are under attack is the police, because we interact with you on daily basis. So make friends with the police for your own safety”.
He reminded the public to remain vigilant and do not make friends with strangers because of material things. Some of these strangers who come around town pretending to be traders can be dangerous.
The program was chaired by Bombowurchea Memunatu Gaddo, organizer, Queen Mothers’ platform, Savannah region. In her closing remarks, she admonished the students not to allow themselves to be influenced by money to go out there and cause trouble. Any politician who comes to you with money to cause mayhem during elections should be rejected because he wants you to die whilst he enjoys the wealth acquired with his family.
Bombowurchea Memunatu urged the students to focus on learning and do away with GHC50, GHC20 gifts from politicians who want them to cause mayhem during elections.
The program was attended by students and staff of DAGRICO.
Abdulai Zulkaninu.
