The Sawla -Tuna-Kalba District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has embarked on a community sensitization programme to educate the residents of the District on violent extremism.
It noted that such extremist activities and terrorism affected security, peaceful co-existence, cohesion, harmony and security in communities which also impedes progress, growth and development of communities and livelihoods of residents.
“Extremist activities have caused havoc to human security and insecurity in neighbouring countries and as a Commission we must educate, sensitise and create awareness within our communities on such nefarious activities to enable them to peacefully co-exist and ensure harmony and national cohesion,” the Commission stressed.
Mr Issahaku Lonsina, Sawla -Tuna-Kalba District Director of NCCE, speaking at one of such programmes at Jinavore , said violent extremism and terrorism could affect human security in the country if care was not taken.
The Director for NCCE, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, stated clearly that, the programme was proudly sponsored by the European Union, and the main reason for the programme was to educate and create awareness on the alarming issues of radicalisation by extremist groups.
In the Director’s submission, he mentioned that, issues of radicalisation heighten during election periods since that is the time that both political and social tensions gain grounds and the youth are involved more in the political discourse.
He crowned social media as the main medium that extremists utilise to trap more members by “using sophisticated propaganda and recruitment strategies to influence and recruit young individuals”.
He further highligted the importance of voting responsibly during elections other than entertaining “juicy promises” from politicians who seek political power with sugercoated words and never care to have any review of those promises once they are given the mandate to lead.
He again sensitised the residents on some of the obvious signs that show that one has been radicalised, which include being secretive, gradually becoming disrespectul, propagating weird ideas to people, unwillingness to discuss views with people, easily becoming angry and many more.
According to him, the females are known to be utilised well by extremists due to their level of vulnerability.
He also highlighted some effects of violent extremism such as loss of lives, low productivity which breeds hunger, a negative tag on the country’s name and many more.
He encouraged the residents to make good use of the slogan “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING,” by reaching out to the office of the NCCE or the police on their toll free numbers, and that should be done only if there’s actually an issue to deal with other than calling when there’s actually no issue that needs to be attended to.
Mr. Paul Daba Andoor, gave his comprehensive submission on violent extremism, followed by submissions from the residents themselves who were divided into groups of three to bring out their contributions on violent extremism, and conclusively made a promise to the officers that, they will not entertain any offer from a politician which seeks to influence their decision during election.
source: yagbonradioonline/Seidu Salima
