By Murtala Issah
The Commanding Officer of the 6th Batalion of Infantry at Kamina Barracks, Lft. Col. Jerry Ankuyi, has cautioned the public against misinformation on security threats, saying the practice is criminal and a danger to Ghana’s security. He noted that, such acts, could also geopardise efforts to prevent and contain the spread of violent extremism. Lft. Col. Ankuyi was addressing students of the Tamale School of Hygiene at a forum on Friday, June 23.
The forum was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with funding from the European Union.
Countries within the West African subregion, including Ghana, are facing an increasing threat from extremist groups. The development has put Ghana on high alert, with various state agencies taking initiatives to prevent and contain violent extremism. However, one of the key challenges is misinformation, with some claims of terrorist attacks in Ghana.
The Commanding Officer of the 6th Batalion of Infantry, Lft. Col. Jerry Ankuyi, said such videos are detrimental to efforts to prevent and contain violent extremism. He also touched on the role of women in the spread of violent extremism, saying the phenomenon is not limited to men. He urged Ghanaians to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious activities.
In December 2022, the NCCE launched an eighteen-month project titled “Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Eight Border Regions in Northern Ghana”.
The regions are: the Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, North East, Northern, Bono, Bono East, and Oti Regions. According to the NCCE, the operational regions are to actively engage citizens on the threat of violent extremism to prevent the invasion of extremists in Ghana.
The NCCE, under the National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (NAFPCVET), 2019, is mandated to create awareness on violent extremism, carry out public education, and facilitate activities to engender among the citizens of Ghana, security consciousness, social inclusiveness, community cohesion, and situational awareness.
The engagement with the school of hygiene is one of such engagements. The Director of Programmes at the NCCE, Dr. Imrana Mohammed, dismissed the notion that, violent extremism is driven by Islam.
The National Coordinator for the West African Network for Peace Building, Albert Yilyang, urged the youth to respect one another irrespective of creed and social status.