The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Savannah Region have held a sensitization program on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) and peaceful election 2024 for tertiary level students in the region.
The program was held at the Damongo Agricultural College.
In an address, the Savannah Regional Director of NCCE Mr Issaka Zitor said the Commission is embarking on the sensitization sessions for tertiary-level institutions acros Ghana.
Mr Zitor added that the 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.
According to Mr Zitor Violent Extremism and Terrorism continue to remain a serious threat to the preservation of Democratic Governance, peace, prosperity, and safety in the country.
Mr Zitor said Ghana has achieved successful conduct of Presidential and Parliamentary Elections eight (8) times in succession and peaceful transition and transfer of political power respectively from a ruling party to an opposition party in 2008 and 2016.
Mr Issaka Zitor further added that the objective of the engagements seeks to equip the students with the relevant information on preventing and containing violent extremism to enable them to become role models and influencers against Violent Extremism and Terrorism in their circles and communities and most importantly, the activity aims to engage students on the need for social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and preventing vote-buying and voielnce before, during, and after the 2024 elections.
Again, he said the program focuses on empowering the at-risk groups to resist and withstand the appeal of terrorism.
The Savannah Regional NCCE director said the National Commsosin for Civic Education (NCCE ) theme for the year 2024 is “Together we can Build Ghana: So Get involved”.
According to him, the Commision believes that building a strong, vibrant, and peaceful Ghana requires the contribution of its citizens.
He revealed that the Commission’s key pillars driving the civic engagements for peaceful 2024 General Ellections include; Misinformation, disinformation and fake news, Money in politics or vote buying, Religious and ethnic tolerance and Electoral voielnce.
Mr. Bismarck Seidu, the National Security Operatives for the Savannah region who was the resource person took participants through the triggers and effects of violent extremism and what to do when under attacks by extremist.
Mr. Wisdom Pavis Agbenab, rep of the regional commander of the Ghana Police Service Savannah region took participants through online recruitment by extremist and the need for citizens to provide relevant early warning signals to the security agencies for crime prevention in Ghana.
The chairperson for the program Queen Mother Memunatu Yakubu in her closing remarks admonished participants to be vigilant and report suspicious characters to the security agencies for crime prevention in the Savannah region.
