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Let’s be vigilant to prevent violent extremism …Lawra Immigration Commander
Youth in the Lawra Municipality in the Upper West Region have been tasked to assist security personnel to identify suspicious persons in society for immediate action in order to prevent violent extremism in the area and the country at large.
The Acting Municipal Commander of the Immigration Service at Lawra, Assistant Superintendent (AS) Alex Zinzer stated that the youth should not neglect pertinent issues that came to their attention as they interacted with other people since this could lead to the discovery of suspicious characters.
He said this at a youth engagement meeting organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on preventing and containing violent extremism aimed at building the capacity of the youth on violent extremism.
The essence of the meeting was to deepen patriotism and national cohesion among the youth in the Municipality and beyond in the fight against violent extremism and to also create awareness among the youth on the increase of violence in neighbouring countries.
The Officer said community surveillance through watch committees was one of the ways to ensure that suspicious people were detected.
He defined surveillance as “carefully watching and observing a person or a place in relation to crime and other suspicious activities”.
“In surveillance, people are able to identify how others act and behave and what they are trying to hide; there is, therefore, the need for public cooperation to help identify criminals and suspicious characters in the society through community surveillance”, he said, and urged the youth to be ready to assist the security personnel to do their work very well by reporting suspicious acts to them.
A Secretary with the Assemblies of God Church at Lawra, Elder Samuel Dapila on his part defined peace building as “the implementation of measures intended to create and sustain peace, especially in areas affected by conflicts.”
“Peace seeks to address the underlying causes of conflict, helping people to resolve their differences peacefully and laying a foundation to prevent future violence”, he said.
Speaking on community-based approaches to peace building, Mr Dapila encouraged traditional leaders to use the traditional justice system together with committees in the communities to address conflicts.
For his part, the Municipal Director of the Commission, Mr Jesurun Mornah Ninge noted with concern the menace of violent extremism across the globe and said it had caused the loss of lives and properties with its attendant problems of poverty and retardation of development.
He advised the participants to be vigilant in dealing with suspicious people who appeared friendly on the surface but with the intention to lure them into the act of violence and extremism.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
The New Times Corporation (NTC) on Monday held its annual thanksgiving service, bringing together staff and management to reflect on the past year, express gratitude, and renew their commitment to the organisation’s growth.
At the service, the Deputy Chairperson of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and a Board Member of the New Times Corporation (NTC), Madam Charity Binka, called for strong and intentional collaboration among staff, emphasising that unity and teamwork were crucial to transforming the corporation during its challenging times.
“This is a time to break silos, share ideas and work together as one team with a shared vision,” she said, adding that innovation and digital transformation must be embraced to secure NTC’s future.
Madam Binka expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the corporation and its employees despite financial and operational difficulties.
“Though the journey has not been smooth, God has sustained us. We are here today because of His grace,” she indicated, acknowledging the resilience and dedication of staff who have kept The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator among the country’s most respected newspapers.
Quoting Jeremiah 29:11, she encouraged staff to remain hopeful and confident that brighter days lie ahead.
Delivering the sermon, Rev. John Akorli of Word Divine International Ministry at Sukura, Accra, cautioned staff against excessive talking and gossip, warning that careless speech could create unnecessary problems.
Rev. Akorli further reminded staff that their identity should not be defined by past mistakes, family background, or negative labels.
He encouraged them to live confidently, depend on God’s guidance, and remain focused on their responsibilities, noting that spiritual awareness and discipline were essential to personal and organisational growth.
The service ended with prayers for unity, renewal, and a prosperous new chapter for the New Times Corporation.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Bishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has expressed concern over the rising rate of divorce in the country, attributing the trend largely to inadequate knowledge about marriage and misplaced expectations of couples.
He said many marriages were collapsing because couples entered into the union without a clear understanding of the responsibilities, sacrifices and commitments that marriage demands.
The Bishop raised the concern while addressing congregants at the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Madina on Sunday.
According to him, marriage was increasingly being viewed through unrealistic lenses shaped by social media, peer pressure and material expectations, rather than mutual respect, patience and shared values.
“Many people go into marriage with expectations that are not grounded in reality. When those expectations are not met, conflict sets in and eventually leads to separation or divorce,” he observed.
The Bishop noted that some couples lacked proper preparation before marriage, adding that pre-marital counselling was often treated as a formality rather than an opportunity to gain deeper insight into marital life.
He stressed the need for churches, families and society to intensify education on marriage, particularly among the youth, to help them make informed decisions before entering into marital unions.
The Bishop also urged married couples to embrace dialogue, forgiveness and understanding, saying disagreements were inevitable but could be resolved through patience and commitment.
He urged couples experiencing challenges to seek counselling instead of resorting to separation, emphasising that strong families remained the foundation of a stable and progressive society.
By Kennedy Afedzi
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