NCCE Engages East Mamprusi Youth on Peace Ahead of Elections.

East Mamprusi: The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has engaged political youth activists in the East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region to foster peace, tolerance, and prevent all forms of violence ahead of the December polls.According to Ghana News Agency, the political activists, drawn from various political parties including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the People's National Congress (PNC), were taken through key topics such as the role of youth in promoting peace, interfaith tolerance, and identifying and countering misinformation.The engagement is part of a European Union-sponsored project, 'Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE),' implemented by the Commission. Mr Abdulai Abdul-Mugis, the East Mamprusi Municipal Director of the NCCE, highlighted that the initiative aims to build the resilience of the youth against violent extremism and create a peaceful atmosphere ahead of the elections.Mr Mugis explained that politi cal youth activists are often at the forefront of election-related violence, and educating them on peaceful coexistence and tolerance is crucial for shaping Ghana's political landscape. He emphasized the increasing security threats in the West African subregion, particularly in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, and the need for youth to resist being used by extremists.He also noted Ghana's strong track record of peaceful elections, with successful transitions of power in 2000, 2008, 2016, and 2020, and stressed the importance of continuing this trend to maintain national peace. Mr Gariba Sato, Deputy Regional Director of NCCE, underlined the critical role of youth activists in ensuring peace as the 2024 elections approach.Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Cephas Arthur, Divisional Commander of the East Mamprusi Municipality, warned that political parties might exploit the vulnerabilities of the youth, particularly due to unemployment, which can be harnessed by extremist groups to spread violent ideo logies. He urged the youth to protect themselves from being used to disrupt peace, especially during the upcoming elections.Reverend Michael Gumah, Chairman of the East Mamprusi Municipal Inter-Party Dialogue Committee, expressed confidence that educating political activists on the dangers of violent extremism and the importance of peaceful elections would enable them to lead by example and encourage their peers to reject violence.