Daffiama Bussie Issa District: Inter-Party Dialogue Committee sensitize stakeholders on violent extremism

The Inter-party Dialogue Committee of the Daffiama Bussie Issa District (DBI) in the Upper West Region has held a stakeholders sensitization meeting on violent extremism.

The Committee under the auspices of the DBI District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has been championing the course of promoting tolerance, peace and national cohesion.

Mr. Abdul-Rahaman Osman in his speech charged participants to be worth ambassadors of peace and development.

He underscored the importance of the meetings as a refresher on the effort to end violent extremism as well as trigger all and sundry to be more involved in promoting peace, security and national cohesion.

The Deputy Upper West Regional Director Mr. John Yibile in his speech emphasized that peace is an embodiment of cohesion, security and nation-building and for that matter, he stressed on all to play their part in promoting peace at their level. He calls for deepening democratic governance through the strengthening of the local level of governance. He believed it is time for Ghana to revisit the debate on the election of MMDCES since it will enhance participatory democracy and prevention of the experience of rejection, sabotage and political bigotry we are facing in the ongoing confirmation of MMDCES.

On the media, he charged them to be circumspect in their reportage. He noted the media plays an essential role in information, entertaining and educating. To him, the media is a pillar to help build mother Ghana, as well as its ills, conducts can break down mother Ghana.

Mr. Tahiru Lukman a seasoned development consultant and Pan- African Author facilitating violent extremism, opined that religious radicalism, political bigotry and ethnic fragmentation are a threat to national security and peace. He, therefore, charge all to be more accommodative and tolerance of divergent views as the best way out to build consciousness and live together in harmony.

The Daffiama Bussie Issa District police commander DSP James Ankan bemoaned the increasing spade of tribal solidarity in the Upper West region, that compels families, households, communities and individuals from reporting crime. To DSP James Ankan crime have no colour, tribe, religion and gender and for that matter residents must be willing to test that law for justice and sanity.

The Chairman for the occasion Mr. Rev. Fr. Francis Voe-ngna re-emphasized that the need for peace is non-negotiable and for that matter, Ghana must continue to strive to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. He charged religious leaders and community leaders to lead the way to help create an inclusive and better society with more tolerance to divergent views.

The meeting offered participants the opportunity to interact, share experiences and ask questions regarding violent extremism. Participants sought clarification on border security; temporal set up of post; police visibility; community policing; the role of political leadership and rising spate of extremism in the sub-region.

The stakeholders' sensitization meetings which are a series of similar meetings in recent times brought together, the clergy, women groups, youth groups, political parties, media practitioners, officials from the Electoral Commission, the Police Service, Consultants and religious.

Key figures present include; the chairman of the inter-party dialogue committee Mr. Rev. Fr. Francis Voe-ngna, Parish Priest and Chairman of the DBI District Inter-Party Dialogue Committee; Mr. John Yibile, Upper West Regional Deputy Director of NCCE; Mr. Tahiru Lukman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ideapath Consult, Mr. Mohammed, Regional Internal Auditor with the Upper West Regional Directorate of NCCE; Madam Florence Bambio, Administrative secretary of the Upper West Regional Directorate of NCCE . Others were the event organizers Mr. Abdul- Rahaman Osman DBI District Director of NCCE and his core staff; DSP James Ankan, DBI District Police Commander and his staff.