Govt Urged to Do More to Prevent Spread of Radicalism, Violent Extremism

The Executive Director of the West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE), Mr Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar, has urged the government to do more in the prevention, spread of radicalisation and violent extremism amongst the youth in Ghana.

He said unresolved chieftaincy conflicts, political vigilantism, violence and the uncompromising political environment during political seasons can affect the country's security profile.

"High youth unemployment also has a tendency to serve as a conveyor belt to large scale violence and terrorism."

Mr Muqthar was speaking at the close of a two-day capacity building workshop on 'Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE)' in Ghana organised by WACCE at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

The workshop which was organised with the support of the US Embassy was intended to deepen the understanding of the local community, youth and youth leaders, especially vulnerable communities on the threat of radicalisation and its drivers.

The workshop also focused on youth self-development and how to legitimately realise their economic and social aspirations whilst contributing to positive social change.

He stressed that all nations, organisations and individuals who are committed to global peace have agreed that sustainable peace could not be achieved without successes against radicalisation and violent extremism.

According to Mr Muqthar, "this was in line and in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16 as well as in furtherance of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) which recognises the crucial role of the youth in building sustainable peace".

He said the United Nations SDG 16 acknowledges violent extremism as a pervasive threat to global peace, and that its deadly sophistication requires a concerted action beyond law enforcement, military or security measures.

"It requires a non-security approach involving the civilian population.

"What will be remarkable is how young people themselves decide to address this challenge."

The WACCE Executive Director reveals that the biggest challenge Ghana faces was the youth vulnerability and the inability of the state to create adequate jobs or inspire the creation of adequate businesses in the private sector to absorb them.

He said this exposes the youth to serious vulnerabilities with consequential impact on the country.

Mr Muqthar revealed that in WACCE's 2018 research report on local security threats, the organisation noted that chieftaincy and ethnic violence remains the single most pervasive source of insecurity, and fatality with over 352 unresolved conflicts currently nationwide.

"Between 1981 to 2018, a chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts have claimed more than 12,700 lives. Of course, this statistic is largely skewed by the 1994 Nanumba-Konkomba war."

Mr Abdul Rahman Safian, a facilitator explained that this workshop could not have come at a better time than now, given the high level of youth unemployment, unresolved local conflicts and the vulnerable nature of the youth.

Participants were trained as peace ambassadors to see themselves as change makers, peer educators and leaders with a commitment to ensuring sustainable peace.

The workshop was held to conclude WACCE 2018 PVE Campaign in Ghana.

WACCE in 2018 organised five workshops in Accra, Tamale and Bolgatanga to train over 500 youth on 'Preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalisation in Ghana'.

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