The Sagnarigu Municipal Directorate of the NCCE has held the phase two of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee meeting to promote public awareness on their respective roles towards preventing extremist groups from entering the country.
The day’s meeting, held at Sagnarigu in the Northern Region, was also used to discuss ways to promote peace and tolerance as the country approached the polls in December.
It was also to discourage individuals and communities from spreading misinformation, and disinformation to ensure peaceful coexistence.
The meeting, funded by the European Union and implemented by the NCCE, was attended by the leadership of political parties in the area, religious leaders, youth groups, persons living with disabilities, Heads of Department amongst other stakeholders in the area.
Mr Abdulai Soale, Sagnarigu Municipal Director of NCCE, speaking during the meeting, said it was to sensitise participants to guard against extremist activities, especially as the country approached this year’s elections.
He touched on misinformation, and disinformation and said politicians must desist from spreading fake news about their opponents on campaign platforms to enhance divergent political views and policies.
He said, “The beauty of our democracy rests in our ability to respect and tolerate opposing views without using violence.”
Reverend Theophilus Ibrahim Dokurugu, former Vice President of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, who facilitated the meeting, identified building the skills of young people as a viable tool to counter violent extremism in the country.
He explained that if the youth were meaningfully engaged, they would not be lured to participate in violent extremism.
Participants, after focus group discussions, pledged to complement the efforts of stakeholders in ensuring peace, harmony, and tolerance in their communities.
