Some youth in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region have appealed to government to create opportunities for the youth and pay attention to skill training in educational institutions.
They were speaking at a day’s youth activist workshop organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the National Security Ministry (NSM) on “Secessionism and violent extremism, national cohesion and national development.”
The youth, having met and listened to presentations, under NCCE and NSM, pledged to use laid-down procedures to address issues of the Western Togoland group and be mindful of promoting peace and unity in all communities and not to disrupt the development of Ghana.
According to them, activities of the Western Togoland and vigilante groups create tension, fear, and lack of peace, uncertainties and threat to employment and living conditions.
The youth pledged to champion public education, peace, love and be vigilant and report any crime committed in their communities, calling on state institutions to rise up to the task in performance of their functions.
Speaking at the workshop, the Ketu North Municipal Director for NCCE, Mr Prosper Afealete, urged the youth to use the right channel to address their grievances.
Touching on Grievance Handling procedures: Public Order Act and Vigilantism, he admonished the youth to recognise the laws of Ghana, which is the 1992 Constitution, stressing that the Public Order Act had given them the right to freedom of assembly including freedom to take part in processions and demonstration.
He, however, cautioned that it should be done in accordance with security agencies, such as the police for the sake of peace and security.
Mr Afealete revealed how vigilante groups are hiding behind religious groups, NGOS, Keep-fit clubs and the likes to carry out their heinous crimes in communities.
“It will surprise you to know that vigilantism is operated on different levels and in different forms these days and no longer with names that can easily be identified and dealt with.
Some are even trying to use religious groups, keep-fit clubs and NGOs,” he said.
For his part, a representative from the National Security, Mr George Abizy Baffour, said for a nation to provide security for its citizens, the first step was to address their grievances and feelings, adding that the creation of the NSM was recognition of their efforts towards the provision of peace and security.
Speaking on “Prevention of violent extremism in Ghana, Mr Baffuor noted that the extremists and terrorists start their threats gradually in communities among small groups or individuals and gain momentum to destroy the peace and development of a nation.
The Parish priest for Dzodze, Rev. Fr Frederick Seddoh-Henyo, who spoke on “Peaceful coexistence and national development”, called on Ghanaians to dialogue among each other for a peaceful coexistence.
Chairperson for the workshop, former Volta Regional Police Commander, Togbe Bedi Ahadzi IV, lamented about how some chiefs were being used by political parties to disrupt peace and development in their communities.
BY TIMES REPORTER
