Josephine Nkrumah, the Chairperson for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on the citizenry to pursue national cohesion and inclusively participate in the governance processes.
She explained that national cohesion and inclusive participation should empower the citizenry and encourage them to appreciate the importance of desisting from social vices against the state.
“The Commission has embarked on ‘We are One Ghana’ concept to reinforce the essence of peace, unity, cohesion, harmony and stability as a prerequisite to deepening democratic governance and rule of law,” Ms Nkrumah stressed.
She made the call at separate workshops for selected youth activists in Gomoa West and Awutu-Senya East at Apam and Kasoa in the Central Region which was under the theme: ‘National cohesion and inclusive participation – Empowering Ghanaians to stand for national cohesion’.
It was aimed to sensitise and educate youth activists to be ambassadors of peace, cohesion and unity and address secessionist activities, violent extremism and terrorism in some regions where such activities are prevalent and have become serious security threat to the nation.
The NCCE has embarked on a project dubbed: ‘We are One Ghana’ concept with support and assistance from the Ministry of National Security, to reinforce essence of national unity, cohesion and harmony as prerequisite to deepening democracy.
According to Ms Nkrumah, “the engagement also encourages the youth to understand the importance of national cohesion and inclusiveness so as there will be no need to discuss secessionist, extremism, terrorism activities and other social vices against the state if there is unity, peace, stability, cohesion and harmony.
“There is a growing political and religious intolerance and ethnocentrism that seems to be engulfing society, if we do not find ways to build national cohesion and harmony, our democratic journey will be in danger and we should embrace national development, stability, peace and tranquility,” she cautioned.
William Baffoe, Central Regional Coordinator of the National Security, briefed the youth on violent extremism, terrorism, enumerated marginalisation, inequality, discrimination, persecution and denial of rights as factors of violent extremism and also took them through preventive measures, awareness creation and community surveillance to avert possible signs of radicalisation among the youth.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Obiri Yeboah, took the participants through Public Order Act (Act 491), Vigilantism and Related Offences Act 2019 (999), and Alternative Disputes Resolution Mechanisms.-GNA
