The Savelugu Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held an Inter-party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting, as part of measures to prevent political violence and ensure peaceful coexistence in the area.
It was a peacebuilding consultative meeting with representatives of political parties and other stakeholders aimed at averting violent extremism in the country.
Participants included representatives of political parties, faith-based organisations, security agencies, Electoral Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, women and youth groups amongst others in the area.
They were taken through how to monitor and report threats and vulnerabilities to violent extremism in various communities, ways to detect youth radicalisation and possible signs of recruitment, and mediation and resolution of local conflicts.
They were also educated on the dangers of misinformation and disinformation on social media and advised to always verify information before sharing and to be cautious of divisive narratives that could fuel extremism.
Jibreel Alhassan, the Savelugu Municipal Director of NCCE, at the meeting, reiterated the importance of the IPDC and its role in ensuring peaceful coexistence and national cohesion.
He emphasised the need for community members to stay united to enable them to detect any suspicious characters in their communities and alert security agencies for quick response.
She also encouraged the community to vote for political parties and candidates, based on issues and their ability to address community concerns rather than being swayed by monetary incentives or false promises.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Fuseini Wahabu from the Savelugu Police Station, assured the participants of the readiness of the Ghana Police Service to provide security before, during and after the December polls.
He urged community members not to shield criminals and expressed need for them to work together with the Police to fight crime and ensure law and order in the area.
Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, the Northern Regional Director of NCCE, who was represented at the event, expressed the need for all to play their parts effectively to keep the country safe and peaceful.