The Inter-party Dialogue Committee in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region has renewed its commitment to serving as peace and tolerance ambassadors before, during, and after the 2024 general elections.

This remark was made during a day of capacity building seminars aimed at putting an end to violent extremism in Ghana. The Wa West District Directorate of NCCE, which facilitated this meeting, brought together religious leaders, political party activities, market queens, chiefs, and security officers who have been assigned to the Committee. Speaker after speaker emphasized the importance of eschewing tolerance in order to foster peace.

Mr. John Yibile, NCCE’s deputy upper West regional director, emphasized the importance of such involvement, citing the devastation caused by jihadist operations in Northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Mali as lessons for Ghana in working to strengthen national unity and cohesion. Madam Esther Suglo, NCCE’s Wa West District Director, asks to committee members to provide a positive example of peace and tolerance that others might copy.

She emphasized the importance of sustained engagement. She underlines, “This exercise is national in scope; we will visit schools, worship facilities, and market squares to spread the message of halting violent extremism.

The resource person, Mr. Tahiru Lukman, a seasoned development Consultant, security specialist and CEO of Ideapath Consult, cautioned participants to view politics as a competition of ideas. Mr. Tahiru Lukman made hints on how political division, religion, and ethnic bigotry are can destroy a country. He challenged the participants to keep advocating for inter-ethnic harmony and religious tolerance.

He pointed out that; “It is in Ghana an imam will feel comfortable in church; a pastor will be invited to Islamic ceremony; and marrying from different tribes becomes a norm; these tolerance and community social life builds a nation together”. Mr. Tahiru Lukman also urging all participants to help raise awareness of civil responsibility among community members and their families and peers in order to establish a peaceful environment for the 2024 elections.

He charged members with promoting national cohesiveness prior to, during, and after the 2024 election. The workshop concluded with participants discussing their experiences and asking questions for clarification. Approximately 50 participants, including NCCE personnel and media were in attendance.

This workshop is part of The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meetings on peace, Tolerance and countering violent extremism and vigilantism at the district levels.

This activity is under the European Union (EU) sponsorship package on, Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) Action in the Northern Regions of Ghana programme.

Filed byTahiru LukmanAuthor, Development Consult and Research FellowTel: +233 (0) 209154057Email: lukmantahiru@rocketmail.com