By Murtala Issah
Media Houses in the Northern region are being urged to collaborate to stem the tide of extremist rhetoric on the airwaves.
Differences in doctrine has often led to tensions and occasionally, violent confrontations between supporters of rival sects.
Stakeholders fear that violent extremist groups could take advantage of these doctrinal differences and sectoral rivalries to destabilize the region.
The Northern Regional Peace Council in collaboration with the Office of Transitional Initiatives (OTI) is therefore working with stakeholders including managers of media houses in the region to promote tolerance among the various groups.
Ghana’s neighbors, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast have witnessed violent extremist activities in recent times.
Experts believe these violent extremist organizations are seeking to reach coastal countries including Ghana through the Sahel.
Over the last few years, violent extremist organizations have attempted setting up cells and recruiting in the Northern region.
In September this year, Ghana’s National Security working in collaboration with sister security agencies arrested 33 suspects at Nambahala, a village in the Savelugu Municipality.
5 out of the 33 suspects were believed to have ties with violent extremist groups in the Sahel and were using an Islamic Learning Center at Nambahala to spread their ideology.
As part of efforts to further boost security and keep extremist groups at bay, the Northern Regional Peace Council with funding from the USAID under the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is working with stakeholders to secure Ghana’s borders.
The initiative has seen religious leaders and youth groups being sensitized.
The latest to receive this sensitization are Managers of Television and FM stations in the region.
The Executive Secretary to the Northern Regional Peace Council, Father Thadeus Kuusah explained the initiative is critical to protecting the peace.
Veteran Broadcaster and CEO of North Star FM in Tamale, Alhaji Adam Kokrah, and the Head of Programs at Filla FM, Akosua Boatemaah, in an interview with GBC News, emphasized the need to take proactive measures to keep violent extremist organizations at bay.
The Facilitator of the program, Dr. Eliasu Mumuni called for collaboration among Media Houses to ensure that Preachers who espouse violence and extremist ideology are not given space in the media to spread their agenda.
