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Avoid making foul religious and tribal comments -Lawra NCCE Director
The Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region, Mr Jesurun Ninge Mornah has advised the public to avoid making foul religious and tribal comments that had a tendency to fuel dissentions and violence.
He said unfavourable comments against people’s religion, tribe, culture and tradition which were tied to their identity, incited violence and therefore cautioned against the use of uncouth language to denigrate such social groupings.
The director made this known at a meeting by the Commission at the Brifoh Senior High School in the municipality to engage the students on violent extremism and counter terrorism and to also launch the Constitutional Week celebration in the municipality.
The engagement meeting formed part of efforts by the NCCE to create awareness on preventing and containing violent extremism under the European Union’s supported Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism Project (PCVE) by the NCCE.
“Religious, tribal and political issues are dear to the hearts of people so if they are not handled properly, they can degenerate into internal conflicts and attract extremists into the country because these are a group of people who are already peeved and feel they have not been treated right so they are tempted to join any force that promises to restore their dignity in society”, he elaborated.
In addition, Mr Mornah said issues such as environmental degradation that pushed herdsmen to settle in other countries, unemployment and nepotism as well as poverty, among others were some of the drivers of violent extremism.
The director suggested that communities created community-based surveillance groups to closely monitor activities of people and promptly report suspicious characters to appropriate authorities.
He also advised that there was the need for the use of peace building strategies to quell internal conflicts so that they did not serve as breeding grounds for extremist to recruit aggrieved persons into their scheme.
The Director used the opportunity to remind the students of the need to adhere to the constitution of the nation and to ensure that they did not flout it under any circumstance.
One of the facilitators at the meeting, Mr John Bosco Bedi, the Lawra Municipal Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) was more concerned about the exuberance of the youth recently and encouraged them to channel their energy to lucrative ventures and not into conflicts and violence.
He mentioned that extremist groups played on the vulnerability of the youth, particularly in the face of unemployment and low income to get them to join their cause and advised them to avoid juicy offers with huge financial benefits from unknown persons.
FROM LYDIA DARLINGTON FORDJOUR, LAWRA
MTN Ghana has hosted more than 200 students from various educational institutions in Accra for an engaging, hands-on technology immersion at MTN House, bringing classroom theory to life and fueling interest in STEM and digital innovation.
Students from Ashesi University, Ghana International School, Cradle Star Academy, and Kinderland School explored MTN Ghana’s rich history, core values, customer-focused innovations, and digital transformation agenda.
They were introduced to the company’s sustainability and social impact initiatives, spanning education, youth empowerment and community development. A key highlight of the visits was a tour of MTN Ghana’s Network Operations Centre (NOC) and data centres.
The students gained first-hand exposure to the advanced technology, systems, and expertise powering seamless connectivity for millions daily – offering a rare look into how MTN ensures network performance, security, and resilience.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, noted, “Hosting students at MTN House reflects our commitment to shaping Ghana’s digital future. As we deliver our Ambition 2030 strategy, we are deepening investments in youth development through programmes like the Bright Scholarship, the MTN Digital Skills Academy, and collaborations on the One Million Coders Programme and the Girls in ICT initiative led by the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation.”
Paschal Paaga, Manager for IT Projects Implementation, emphasised the importance of experiential learning.
‘’By opening our doors, we are helping to bridge the gap between academia and industry. We want young people to see the real-world impact of technology and be inspired to pursue careers in STEM.”
For many participants, the experience was transformative. Maame Sapomaa, a Level 300 Information Systems student from Ashesi University, shared, “The visit was incredibly inspiring. Everything we have learned in the classroom came to life, and we were exposed to new concepts beyond our studies. It has motivated me even more to pursue a career in technology.”
As MTN Ghana advances its Ambition 2030 vision, the company remains committed to driving digital inclusion, platform-led innovation, and building strategic partnerships that support Ghana’s long-term socio-economic development.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has expressed sorrow over the death of two Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in a road accident in the Upper West Region.
The deceased are Taufi Ibrahim and Abdul Khalid, both students at Chiana Roman Catholic Junior High School.
“Management of the Ghana Education Service has received with profound sorrow the tragic news of the untimely demise of two Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates, Taufi Ibrahim and Abdul Khalid, students of Chiana Roman Catholic Junior High School in the Upper West Region,” a statement issued by Mr Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations, GES, said.
It said preliminary reports indicated that the students died in a road traffic accident on Sunday, May 3, while travelling to Wa ahead of the commencement of the examination.
“We are deeply saddened that these young lives, full of promise and potential, have been cut short under such distressing circumstances.
“Management and staff of GES, and the entire education community, extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the school, their classmates, and all who have been affected by this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.”
The statement said Management of the GES would continue to liaise with the appropriate authorities to ascertain full details of the incident and consider measures to prevent similar occurrences. –GNA
