Welcoming participants, the municipal director of the Commission Mr. Patrick Tampugre said the objective of the engagement is to prevent and contain violent extremism through the promotion of social cohesion, peace and tolerance among the youth while making them understand the negative consequences of joining violent extremist groups.

He said by doing so the youth will appreciate the essence of peace building mechanisms in society, the need for social cohesion and community based mechanisms for countering violent extremism.

The meeting discussed topics like: peaceful coexistence and inter-faith tolerance, triggers and effects of violent extremism, awareness of violent extremism at worship centers and other public places, online radicalization, misinformation and disinformation, ways to resist the appeal of terrorism and what to do during violent attacks.

Mr. Emmanuel Nimoh, the Pru East municipal director of the Commission who facilitated the engagement mentioned misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and radicalization as some of the factors that give rise to violence adding that lack of transparency, marginalization, exclusion and poverty go a long way to fuel violence.

He said factors like patriotism, awareness of civic responsibility, inclusive values, social recognition, tolerance and unity will drive peaceful co-existence and ensure social cohesion.

The groups drawn from political parties, keep fit clubs, trade groups and development oriented bodies did some work in signs of radicalization, identification of fake news, the importance of neighborhood watch committees, acts that could help reduce crimes in communities and factors that engender national cohesion after which they presented a communiqué on their commitment to peace before during and after the general elections in December.