Talensi District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Dorcas Atia, has urged young people to resist any attempt by extremist and jihadist groups to involve them in acts that would spoil the 2024 general elections.

She said that with less than a month left in the country for crucial elections, the NCCE and other institutions had picked up signals that Islamist groups were doing everything possible to recruit young people in border communities from Ghana.

Ms. Atia was speaking to some selected young activists in Tongo, capital of Talensi district of the Upper East region.

This commitment was part of activities undertaken by the organization to calm the “increased political temperature” in the run-up to the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

She said the objective of the program was in line with the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) project, supported by the European Union (EU).

The program, she said, would instill in young people a deep understanding of the negative consequences of involvement in violent extremist groups and associated thug acts.

Ms. Atia stressed that it was essential to recognize the significant threat that violent extremism posed to global security and societal harmony, and that the country would be entering dangerous territory if young people were encouraged to attend activities of jihadists.

“In light of these challenges, this engagement program provides a crucial platform to foster a sense of unity, belonging and patriotism among our youth.

“Through social cohesion, peace and tolerance, we aim to equip our young people with the necessary tools to recognize and resist the dangers of violent extremism,” she stressed.

However, she used the platform to urge young people to develop strategies and position themselves to counter radicalization and disinformation online.

Gaare Chief Naab Mwarebilsong Naneeteng, who chaired the mobilization meeting, advised the youth to be ambassadors of peace.

According to him, young people have a huge responsibility in maintaining peace ahead of this year’s meeting, stressing that the influence they exert in society is immeasurable.

Meanwhile, the NCCE Upper East Regional Director, James Abdulai Ayaaba, revealed that the organization, with EU funding, had covered many border communities to engage the youth on the need to kiss before , during and after the December elections. .

He indicated that young people from these communities were also sensitized to reject any form of incitement from Islamist groups, explaining that the latter’s actions were detrimental to the country’s prospects.

President of Talensi Rock Youth Association, Rockson Batamme Bukari, commended the NCCE and its partners for engaging the youth to embrace peace and desist from acts that amounted to derailing the peace of the country.

He promised that young people in the region wanted to see peaceful elections and would not give in to pressure from any political party or individual to foment unrest.