In Ghana, 60 women were trained to counter extremist narratives — MyJoyOnline
Ghana’s National Peace Council held a two-day training session in Kansogo, in the Bawku West District, for 60 women on countering violent extremist narratives. Special attention was given to young female social media users, who learned to identify messages aimed at radicalizing and recruiting people.
Training for communities
The event was held as part of a project on preventing and responding to violent extremism in the Atlantic Corridor. It is funded by the governments of Denmark and Norway through the United Nations Development Programme.
Participants were taught to disseminate alternative messages and counter-narratives, as well as to use their roles as peacemakers and trusted communicators in their communities. MyJoyOnline reports.
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The role of women in countering radicalization
Damien Asobayire, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council in the Upper East Region, said that women can play an important role in preventing extremism due to their influence in families and communities. According to him, targeted training for young women active on social media is intended to help them recognize the methods extremists use for radicalization and recruitment.
David Atualing Angaamba, the council’s programme manager, who led a session on conflict analysis and counter-narratives, noted that women and men experience violence and peace differently, and therefore their experiences should be incorporated into peacebuilding processes.
Participants Gloria Ndeogo and Martha Abugri said that the training gave them practical knowledge for identifying dangerous messages on social media and promoting unifying messages in their communities.
