Zabzugu youth committed to peace, tranquility
Youth leaders in the Zabzugu District of the Northern Region have pledged their commitment and determination in ensuring peace and tranquility in the area to attract socioeconomic development.
They also committed to, harmony, cohesion and tolerating one another irrespective of their religious, political or ethnic affiliations to foster peaceful, united and cordial coexistence.
The youth reiterated that peace, unity, cohesion and stability were prerequisite for growth and development, hence the need for them to work together to consolidate the peace and unity in their communities.
They made the commitment when the Zabzugu District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) engaged stakeholders on the need to prevent violent extremism in the area and the country.
The day’s event, held at Zabzugu, formed part of the Preventing Electoral Violence and Providing Security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana project, funded by the European Union to among others counter violent extremism in the country.
The engagement was to enhance participants’ understanding of peacebuilding mechanisms, community-based mechanisms for countering violent extremism, identifying early warning signals, community surveillance and basic community-based strategies for countering arms proliferation.
In a communique, the youth pledged that “we will stand for peace and reject violent activities, and tolerate each other’s’ views to maintain peace, stability, harmony, cohesion and unity amongst us”.
Iddrisu Andul-Latif, Acting Zabzugu District Director of NCCE, urged participants to pursue national cohesion, harmony and inclusive governance towards sustainable socioeconomic development.
Peter Mohammed, Head Pastor of Assemblies of God Church in the district, who took participants through peace building mechanisms, said activities of terrorists were due to religious, political or ethnic divisions hence the need for them to desist from engaging in acts, which could bring divisions.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Clement Senanu, Zabzugu District Police Commander, took participants through violent extremism prevention mechanisms, community surveillance, possible signs of radicalisation, neighbourhood watch or community patrol, among other topics.
He advised participants to be law-abiding as well as report any acts that would disrupt the peace, unity, harmony and cohesion in communities.
Wisdom Tsevi, Zabzugu District Officer of National Investigation Bureau, encouraged the youth to be vigilant and ensure they reported any person, who engaged in activities that could breed terrorism and violent extremism in their communities. -GNA