NCCE RECEIVES A DELEGATION FROM UNOWAS

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) had an interactive and insightful deliberation with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). The deliberation occurred when a delegation from the UNOWAS called on the Commission at its head office in Accra.

A representative from UNOWAS, Mr. William Lifongo, and a member of the UN office in Ghana, Mrs. Angeline Nguedjeu were elated about the warm reception from the Management of the Commission and tabled some proposals to intensify civic and public education on peace, security, the threat of violent extremism and voter education among others.

Mr. William Lifongo said that UNOWAS is a political mission managed by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and has the responsibility for preventive diplomacy, good offices, and political mediation and facilitation efforts in West Africa and the Sahel.

The Deputy Chairman of the NCCE, Operations, Mr. Samuel Asare Akuamoah said, the NCCE as part of measures to respond to possible spillover of terrorism activities from neighbouring countries is currently engaging citizens on violent extremism. He mentioned that the engagement forms part of activities under the European Union-funded Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) project. He highlighted that the project sought to deepen awareness and help contain violent extremism in the northernmost parts in particular and the nation as a whole.

Mr. Akuamoah said that the project is being executed through collaborations with other stakeholders, the National Security, the media, Security Services, the Counter-terrorism Unit, La Fundación Internacional Y Para Iberoamérica De Administración Y Políticas Públicas (FIIAPP), COGINTA, etc. “The Commission has engaged the media, tertiary institutions, chiefs, opinion leaders, students, community members, stakeholders, artisans, religious organizations, non-governmental organizations, etc. all in the quest to create awareness of the menace of violent extremism”, he stated.

The Deputy Chairman of the NCCE, Finance and Administration; Mr. Victor Brobbey, on the other hand, spoke on voter education. He added that the Commission reaches out to citizens through social media, media engagements, capacity-building, stakeholder dialogues, public education, political party youth activists, and so on at national, regional, and district levels in dialects that are most appreciated by Ghanaians. Mr. Brobbey said that the Commission also develops materials like jingles, flyers, skits, and animations to help orient the minds of Ghanaians to contribute to free and transparent elections.

The Deputy Chairman of Operations; Mr. Samuel Asare Akuamoah, the Deputy Chairman in charge of Finance and Administration; Mr. Victor Brobbey with the delegation from UNOWAS and some Directors of the NCCE