The Atebubu-Amantin Municipal office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Bono East region, with support from the European Union, has engaged a number of youth groups in the municipality on the prevention and control of violent extremism with the aim of ensuring peaceful, stable and united country.
Welcoming participants to the programme, the Municipal Director of the NCCE, Mr. Patrick Tampugre, said about fifteen countries in Africa, including five West African states namely; Togo, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger and Mali have been affected by violent extremist activities, adding that the closeness in terms of proximity of Ghana to its affected neighbours make it imperative to find ways of preventing or controlling the problem.
He said to this end, his outfit has carried out a study and has gone further to engage a number of identifiable groups on the issue.
Chief Superintendent Caesar Abanga, the Atebubu Divisional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, who spoke on the topic: ‘Preventing Violent Extremism in Ghana’, defined violent extremism as the beliefs and actions of people who support or use violence to achieve ideological, religious or political goals.
He enumerated a number of causes which include peer pressure, low self-esteem and the feeling of having been bullied, abused, rejected or neglected by society.
Chief Inspector Abanga also mentioned exposure to violence at home, community or media, access to weapons as well as mental health issues.
He said violent extremism undermines peace, security, human rights and sustainable development.
Citing the examples of Syria and Somalia, the police chief intimated that violent extremism destroys lives and communities, leaving in its wake tyranny, fear, division and confusion.
He noted that community surveillance, awareness creation at worship centers, detecting early signs of radicalization in individuals and groups as well as the formation of neighbourhood watch committees as some ways to help deal with the canker.
The Head pastor of the Atebubu Calvary Baptist Church, Reverend Samuel Appiah who spoke on peace building mechanisms and national cohesion, urged community members to make personal commitments to peace adding that this can only be achieved through the adherence to laid down norms, regulations and laws.
The Municipal Electoral Officer, Mr. Kennedy Opoku warned the youth against election related violence.
The youth numbering about 50, after some group work which identified signs of radicalism, importance of neighbourhood watch committees, crime prevention activities and factors engendering national cohesion, pledged to promote peace and fight against violent extremism.
