The National Commission for Civic Education in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region on September 16, 2021, held a dialogue on violent extremism in the District capital to sensitize the youth on signals of violent extremism.
The project which is in collaboration with European union, National security and the National Commission for Civic Education brought together various youth groups and associations together to discuss among others the way of preventing violent extremism in the country.
Speaking at a workshop, ASP Degraft Agyei Armah, the Sawla District Police Commander said unemployment is a major cause of violent extremism.
He was of the view that unemployment of the youth expose them to terrorists gangs to be use for terrorist attacks.
He additional made a call to the youth to take some little abuse seriously in order not to cause this cancer
He said many of these abuse including injustice, nepotism, tribalism and racism.
He admonished the youth to take keen interest in who comes into their communities and goes out adding that duty bearers cannot do all unless citizens play their part by assisting the security with relevant information relating to matters of security.
He urged the youth not to be influenced by money these terrorists will offer them not to throw the country into jeopardy.
He added that they should remember they have no where to go accept Ghana so there should build a violent free society devoid of tribalism, nepotism, and injustice.
He however lamented how the youth are being used by politicians to cause mayhem in the community for the sake of power who will not even remember them when they win the position.
Father Martin Kuusangnayir of the Sawla Catholic church who spoke on peace stressed on the need why we should be the reason for our peace adding that we should accept each other irrespective of where ever one is from.
He said every one did not chose to be who he or she is but by accident and that there’s a reason for which you were borned into a particular group of people.
He emphasised that for there to be peace constant dialogue,youth empowerment, duty bearers exercising their duties with professionalism, inter religious dialogue among others should be promoted to propel peace.
Speaking to Yagbon Radio, District Director of NCCE for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Mr Issahaku Losina said they engaged the over 50 youth not to allow themselves to be used for violence saying with violence there will not be development.
He said violent extremism is common in most African countries but has not gotten to Ghana that is why they have to engage them to understand what it tendencies are to be ambassadors of peace to have a violence free society.
He said, with the discussions during the workshop there is hope for our generation in a violence free society.
The participants were made to pledge to peace and avoid violence in their various communities.
Source: yagbonradioonline
