Findings of a study conducted by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has confirmed the widely held believe that high level of unemployment among the youth of Ghana is a waiting time bomb.
The study revealed that unemployment is a major risk factor that might plunge the country into violent extremism.
The study, “Risk/threat analysis of violent extremism in ten border regions of Ghana”, which was launched by the NCCE yesterday in Accra, indicated that unemployed youth are more likely to join violent extremist groups than supporters of political parties and religious leaders.
The NCCE Director of Research, Gender and Equality Department, Dr Henrietta Asante-Sarpong, presenting the findings, said 86 percent out of the total study population (1,173) held the view that unemployment is among the underlying factors of violent extremism.
Meanwhile, it was also discovered that public knowledge of violent extremism is very low, which may impact on the country’s vulnerability to the menace.
Other areas that were also identified as a possible cause of violence are Ghana’s porous borders that allow people to walk in and out of the country without proper tracking.
“This is because clandestine networks often look for countries with porous borders, so as to establish their base and undertake recruitment and other operational activities,” she said.
However, Mrs Asante-Sarpong added that a very limited number of respondents (3.5%) claimed they have ever been involved in an act of violence, of which 58.5 percent of them said they used violence to demand their rights, while a few (2.4%) added that they used it to put fear in others.
The Chairperson of NCCE, Ms Josephine Nkrumah, on her part, expressed concern over how violent extremism is on the ascendency, especially during election.
She said, in order to educate and create awareness about violent extremism, the NCCE received support from the European Union to conduct a study in 10 border regions of the country, which evidence is the findings being launched.
“It is instructive to note that Ghana has put together a framework for preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism… and under this, the NCCE plays a critical role.
“This framework seeks to counter violence extremism and terrorism. At the NCCE, our role is to carry out communication, dissemination of information and civic engagement to inculcate prohibition, security consciousness and awareness,” Ms Nkrumah added.
The NCCE chair stated that the purpose of the study was to inform and guide public education and to sustain peace and prevent pre and post electoral violence in the country.
The Director of Counter-Terrorism and Fusion Centreat the Ministry of National Security, Kodjo Mawutor Awoonor, advised the public to report individuals with suspicious character in their community to the police for prompt action.
Mr Awoonor urged the public to stay alert, especially with returnees who are probably acting wild and strange, since such important information help in the prevention of violent extremism.
He urged the public to be vigilant in the markets and farms among other places, since the triggers of violent extremism are already present in the country.
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