By George M.O. Williams
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) was officially launched on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at the Bintumani International Conference Center in Freetown.
The Launching Ceremony brought together different national and international stakeholders who made statement that will foster peace and national cohesion in Sierra Leone.
It was observed that the President and Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone were absent for the official launching of the Independent Peace and National Cohesion Commission ceremony. The president was supposedly to have done the official launching of the commission. Additionally, the former president of Sierra Leone who was also invited was absent for the ceremony.
In his official launching, the Chief Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa, said that blatant exclusion of citizens from governance and irrational barriers weakens our institutions and national development.
He said that the government has been able to improve access to justice, revisited the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report, strengthen governance and institutions to monitor the causes of discord.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the government has also enacted legislations that protect and promote inclusion and the full participation and representation of women in governance.
He pointed out that as a nation we have spent too much time in trying to prove who’s wrong or right. “Now i believe is the right time for all to work through a single Independent Commission,” he said.
In his opening statement, the Chairman of the ICPNC, Shondanke Johnson said that the Commission envisioned a country that is just, peaceful and cohesive.
He added that the mission of ICPNC is to facilitate peaceful co-existence, unity and inclusivity and to build a network of conflicts prevention, resolution and management for national development.
Johnson cited that since the existence of the Commission, they have been able to develop three-year strategic plan, establishment of a permanent peace situation room, toll free line and about 600 peace monitor around the country.
The Resident Representative of the ECOWAS, Harouna Moussa said that the ECOWAS reiterates it commitment to support the Commission’s mission to build a network of competency to prevent conflict and develop resolutions of peace for national synergy and development.
He added that the Commission should spread a wide approach to ensure that all state actors and citizens take ownership of the ICPNC for the benefit of the country and region.
The United Nation Resident Cordinator, Babatunde Ahonsi recounted that in 2016, the UN General Assembly Security Council adopted resolutions on peace building, thus the Government of Sierra Leone articulated conflict resolution in its medium-term development plan which inspires the establishment of the peace commission.
He added that Sierra Leone has been acclaimed as one of the most peaceful countries in the world, adding that as elections head closer “we must concern about tension from political parties and various groups in society”. He said that such tension if not addressed in the proper manner, risk will become an obstacle to national development and creating an avenue of insecurity.
Ahonsi mentioned that the UN subscribes to every effort that contributes to reducing violence and peaceful resolution of conflict while promoting social inclusion and addressing the justice needs of people around the world.