By Alpha Abu
The Chief Minister in the Office of the President, Jacob Jusu Saffa says Sierra Leone’s brutal civil conflict that ended 21 years ago has taught the populace how to keep the country together.
Saffa was delivering the Keynote address at the Launch of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) at Bintumani Conference Centre, Freetown on Thursday 19th of April 2023.
He told a jam-packed hall that the Government was committed to the ICPNC and implored all to support and work with the entity.
Saffa urged the commission to put in place effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for its day-to-day operations.
He also appealed to the institution to practice confidentiality and inclusivity by bringing on board the Youths, the Security Sector, faith-based groups, and other bodies in its engagements to ensure lasting peace in the country.
He entreated the commission and the people to work together to tackle obstacles that could undermine peace in the country.
The ICPNC Chairman, Shodankeh Johnson recalled the efforts made in the past to bring peace to Sierra Leone and the eventual formation of the commission itself.
Nigeria High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Henry John Omaku who is also Dean of the Consular Corps, and the MRU Secretary-General, Maria G. Harrison in their separate statements commended President Julius Maada Bio for supporting the setting up of the peace commission and hoped it will achieve its desired objectives.
UNDP Representative in Sierra Leone Babatunde Ahonsi in his address spoke of how the country has been acclaimed as one of the most peaceful countries in the world.
But he warned that as the June elections approach, all must be concerned about the tensions amongst political parties and various groups in the society which he said if not addressed in the appropriate manner, could serve as obstacles to national development, and create an atmosphere of insecurity.
The Executive Secretary of the peace commission Hawa Samai at the close of the event thanked the various contributors to the work of the institution since it was established.
She was particularly grateful to the African Union (AU) for providing the necessary logistics and expertise in the setting up of the commission’s Situation Room, ECOWAS, the Chinese Embassy, and other partners, for their diverse support.
She used the opportunity to highlight the composition of the Situation Room which she said has the physical presence of representatives of the Police, Office of National Security, Legal Aid Board, Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, and the Political Parties Regulation Commission, to help their staff where necessary.
She said the commission will ensure staffs work round the clock to take calls but advised the public to use the Toll-Free 898 line responsibly.
Highlights of the event include the singing of mostly peace songs by Reverend George Buanie, Children from the Milton Margai School for the Blind, teenage sensation Leonus Di Genius, and a football team comprising mainly amputee victims of the civil war.
Establishing the peace commission was one of the key recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that looked at the causes of Sierra Leone’s 11-year-old devastating Civil War and proffered solutions to prevent a recurrence.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (24/04/23)
