The National Peace Council (NPC) has sensitised residents of Binaba in the Bawku West District, on the dangers of online violent extremist narratives, hate speech and fraudulent job offers used to lure young people into extremist networks.

The sensitisation formed part of activities under the third quarter of the Atlantic Corridor Project, which seeks to prevent and respond to violent extremism in communities along the Atlantic Corridor, with funding support from the Governments of Denmark and Norway through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The programme followed the training of the Local Peace Committee (LPC) established in Binaba to help the community identify, prevent and respond to emerging threats to peace and security.

Mr Damien Asobayire, the Upper East Regional Executive Secretary of the NPC, said the sensitisation was important because community members needed the knowledge and skills, to identify suspicious online narratives and report them through established community structures.

He said violent extremist groups and their sympathisers increasingly used social media and other digital platforms to spread misleading information, hate speech and narratives capable of exploiting the frustrations and vulnerabilities of young people.

“These are some of the things that community members need to know so that they can help prevent violent extremist activities in the community,” he said.

Mr Asobayire urged residents to assist the LPCs by being monitors and share information on suspicious activities with the appropriate security authorities to enable early intervention.

Mr David Atualing Angaamba, the Principal Programme Manager at the NPC, said although Ghana had not suffered a major violent extremist attack, several young people had been radicalised and recruited into extremist groups in the sub-region, with some eventually losing their lives.

He therefore, urged the youth to be vigilant and critically assess information they received online, particularly attractive offers of employment, travel opportunities and financial rewards.

Ms Fidelia Abariga, a participant said the sensitisation had made her more cautious about people who approached young persons with seemingly attractive opportunities.

She recounted an experience in which some individuals allegedly came to the community offering young women opportunities to travel to Saudi Arabia for employment.

“Some of them agreed and went there. As of now, we don’t know where they are. We can’t find them. They can’t call us, and we can’t also call them. We don’t even know whether they are alive or not,” she said.

Ms Vida Amefo, another participant, said the programme had broadened her understanding of both the positive and negative effects of social media.

She said the discussions had particularly exposed how social media could be exploited to spread misinformation, create fear, lure people with fake employment opportunities and facilitate the recruitment of vulnerable individuals.

Ms Amefo pledged to share the knowledge gained with her family, church and other community members to promote vigilance and reduce their vulnerability to online manipulation.

Reverend Issaka Ayande, a Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church, commended the NPC for organising the sensitisation and urged residents to take the lessons seriously.

He said continuous community education was necessary to strengthen vigilance, promote responsible use of social media and prevent individuals, particularly the youth, from falling prey to extremist propaganda and fraudulent schemes.