The Daffiama Bussie Issa District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has admonished the youth to be tolerant of different views giving political ideologies. This call was made during a day Inter-party Dialogue Committee in the Daffiama Bussie Issa District of the Upper West Region.

The Daffiama Bussie Issa District directorate of the NCCE brought together political parties, youth groups, religious leaders, traditional leaders, security and assembly officials who made up the inter-party dialogue committee.

The Daffiama Bussie Issa District Director of the NCCE, Mr. Abdul Rahaman Osman hinted the commission is committed to living up to its mandate in creating a responsible citizenry and environment and the upcoming general election of Ghana which is the biggest test of Ghana’s democratic resilience is not an exception; he applauded the IPDC for working with the NCCEs and urged for continuous cooperation for an inclusive and a peaceful Ghana.

Mr. John Yibile, the Upper West Deputy Regional Director of NCCE not with dismay that the West Africa sub-region is facing a lot of insurgencies and development attributed to violent extremism.

He therefore urged members of the IPDC to continue their ambassadorial role of preaching peace to help build a continuous tolerant and inclusive society. Rev. Fr. Francis Vog-Enga who is the Chairman of the Daffiama Bussie Issa District Interparty Dialogue Committee urged for a trickle-down effect of such engagement.

He stressed that there is the need for members to share ideas and experiences with their members in the communities, worship centers and family level to ensure the message of tolerance of all sorts, a sense of patriotism, the need to end all forms of violent extremism and desire for national cohesion and inclusion is achieved.

The lead resource person for the engagement Mr. Tahiru Lukman, founder and CEO of Ideapath Consult, urged the youth to exemplify tolerance of divergent views. Mr. Tahiru Lukman noted that “politics is a contest of ideas; it is a game of ideology; who has what to offer? How to offer? Who benefits? When to offer? Are the political contest of electioneering campaign to get the people’s mandate; so, the youth, communities, cannot pick up arms to fight for persons of interest political victory”.

Mr. Tahiru Lukman charged the youth not to allow themselves to be used as political parties’ vigilantes for ‘dirty works’ during election season. He stated the youth constitute the greater part of Ghana’s population index and for that matter, their participation in the national process is very significant. However, youth involvement should not be zeroed for violence and anarchy. He concluded by appealing to the youth to ensure there will be peace before, during, and after the 2024 general election.

During open forums, persons living with disability and other minority groups call for tolerance and national cohesion, as a commitment from all Ghanaians. About 40 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 by
Tahiru Lukman
Author, Development Consult and Research Fellow
Tel: +233 (0) 209154057
Email: lukmantahiru@rocketmail.com