A lecturer at the Kofi Anan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has suggested that addressing the issue of unemployment can help in curbing violent extremism.

According to Dr Victor Doke, the prevailing social issue is highly advantageous to extremist groups. 

He explained that with the high unemployment rate, they [extremist groups] could lure desperate unemployed people into joining their groups by offering them lucrative propositions.

“We need to look at that angle [unemployment], because that alone can solve a whole lot of issues. Now, when you have jobs, then nobody will want the material gifts that comes with it [extremist groups] because these groups also offer a lot when it comes to material aspects. So, on a normal level, we’ll hear these youths wanting to join these groups just to make ends meet.”

Dr Doke made the assertions on Sunday, April 30, on The Probe, while contributing to a discussion on how to prevent and control threats of violent extremism in Ghana.

He said that failure to find solutions to unemployment will highly endanger the peace and stability of the nation.

On the same show, Director of Research, Gender and Equality at the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Dr Henrietta Asante Sarpong disclosed that based on a research conducted by her outfit, it was indicated that 11 people were openly willing to allow their close relations to join these extremist groups because their offers were lucrative.

With that, Dr Doke cautioned the populace that the activities of extremists scouting recruiters was real and urged that intense public education be made on the adverse effects of the groups in question.

He also reiterated that government treat the issue of employment with priority and find solutions to it because that, according to him, will safeguard the peace and stability of Ghana.