The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has cautioned the citizenry to guard against complacency but team up to nip violent extremism in the bud.

It said though the country had been widely acclaimed as peaceful, she could not rest on its oars but work hard to maintain the existing peace, unity, harmony and cohesion.

“We wake up every day to be greeted with news of violence, killings, armed robbery, and various forms of crimes which were enough warning signs that the country is not immune to violent extremism and to be forewarned is to be forearmed,” the Commission noted.

Sylvester Asamoah, the Obuasi Municipal Director of NCCE, cautioned at a day’s workshop organised by the Commission in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, as part of implementation of the European Union (EU) sponsored project dubbed: ‘Preventing Electoral Violence and Providing Security to the border regions of Ghana (NORPREVSEC)’ aimed at fighting violent extremism and radicalism.

He observed that the youth had been identified as perpetrators of violence, recruited to cause havoc as experienced in neighbouring countries that had been attacked by terrorists, and there was the need to equip them with relevant information on violent extremism to enable them to guard against being recruited for such acts.

“The presence of heads of institutions, security and leaders of religious groups at the programme lends credence to the fact that the commission is committed, dedicated and determined to working with relevant bodies to end violent extremism and radicalism in the country.

Representatives of political parties present at the programme made commitments to uphold existing peace, unity and cohesion and end violent extremism by issuing joint communiqué.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Martin Asenso, the Obuasi Municipal Police Commander, speaking on ‘National Strategy and the National Framework for Countering Violent Extremism’, admonished political parties to desist from imposing their beliefs, ideals and ideologies on others but be tolerant and accommodate divergent views and opinions.

Margaret Konama, the Ashanti Regional Director of NCCE, mentioned terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and IRISH operating in West African sub-region and attacked Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso, mostly recruiting the youth to cause attacks.

She advised citizens to learn lessons from the mayhem the groups had caused the affected countries and guard against violent extremism and advocated respect and tolerance of divergent views.