The National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE, has called for collaboration between the media and the security agencies to combat extremists activities which are subtly gaining grounds in the Sub Sahara, particularly along border communities.
Speaking at the workshop, the chairperson of NCCE, Ms Kathleen Addy, mentioned that the Media advocacy work is one of the event that they are executing for preventing and containing violent extremism project which was launch in December 2022.
The chairperson NCCE said this project is focused on the five(5) Northern Regions, Bono, Bono East and Oti Regions.
“So the reason why we are gathered here is to understand the context of this project, not just for the project but for the country as a whole”.
Again when it comes to this kind of issues violent extremism and conflict how we report it is the key so I see that the Media play a positive role and at the same time can equally play negative role she added.
The National Framework for Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (NAFPCVET) was developed in 2019 to identify the threats posed by terrorist, fight against extremist activities and implement strategies to curb the rate of terrorist attacks in the country.
So as part of Ghana’s efforts under NAFPCVET to create awareness, sensitize and educate citizens on the threats of violent extremism, the NCCE with support from the European Union (EU) has organize a Media advocacy training session,” The Role of the Media in Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism”.
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 extremist.
The Media advocacy workshop has trained Media practitioners comprising editors, senior journalists, hosts and producers in the five (5) Northern Regions and three (3) adjoining Regions.
Also the participants has been empowered to be advocators, educators and ambassadors of violent extremism.
Resource persons at the workshop who did presentation on violent extremism where H.E Alhaji Abdul Rahaman HARUNA Attah(Fmr. Ambassador to Namibia), Mrs Afua Lamptey (Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Center, Accra) and Dr. Baba Sayuti (Ministry of National Security).
Source: yagbonradioonline/Fataw Diwura
