NCCE Empowers Youth Activists in Lawra to Combat Violent Extremism.

Lawra: The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has taken a significant step towards fostering peace and cohesion among political party youth activists in the Lawra municipality. This initiative aims to prevent violent extremism, particularly in border communities, as part of the strategies to maintain peace during the upcoming general elections.According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop targeted youth activists in border areas, including the Bagri community, to build resilience and empower them against being manipulated by politicians to disrupt peace. Mr. Jesurun Ninge Mornah, the Lawra Municipal Director of NCCE, emphasized the importance of engaging youth activists in these regions due to their proximity to Burkina Faso, which has experienced insurgencies.The Lawra Municipal Directorate of the NCCE organized the workshop under the Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) action in Ghana project, funded by the European Union (EU). Mr. Mornah urged the youth to remain vigilant abou t cross-border movements and resist being used by politicians to incite violence, especially during the election season, as such actions could attract extremist attention.Mr. Mornah highlighted the susceptibility of political party youth activities to violence due to their adherence to political ideologies and leaders. He stressed the need for continuous engagement to instill the value of peace. Mr. Victor Nuworkpor, the Upper West Regional Director of the NCCE, encouraged the youth to use the engagement to gain knowledge to protect their communities from violence and promote national cohesion.Additionally, Mr. Debpuur Jacob from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) advised participants to be cautious of individuals exhibiting behaviors indicative of vulnerability to radicalization. Mr. John Bedi, the Lawra Municipal Director of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, urged the formation of watchdog committees to identify potential threats promptly.The youth activists from various political parties in the Bagri community who attended the workshop committed to leading the fight against violent extremism in their community.