By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Nov. 5 (232News) – The Independent Commission for Peace and National Commission (ICPNC) in a three days’ retreat on Wednesday 3rd November, 2021 held a ‘Strategic Planning Validation Meeting’ at Occasions Complex, Lakka, Western Area Rural District.
Giving his keynote address, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Ambassador Brima Patrick Kapuwa, said that peace for Sierra Leone is not negotiable and any responsible Government can invest whatever it takes in time, human and financial resources to support and promote Peace and National Cohesion.
He furthered that nothing will be too much to do, any amount of human and material investment will be too great and any amount of sacrifice will be a waste to ensure peace, national cohesion and unity is made part of Sierra Leonean life.
“The ICPNC is here, a requirement recommended over two decades ago has been made reality by His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio. This is by every indication not only manifestation of responsible state leadership but a prioritization of an institution that should be at the heart of nation building in Sierra Leone,” he said.
Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Ambassador Foday Yumkella, registered the ministry’s commitment to the Commission, adding that this is the first external interactive session since the establishment of the Commission.
He continued that the role for the establishment of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion has been challenging and that he has no doubt that the proposition of the Commission is very excellent, noting that he believed that they are going to have a fruitful deliberation at the end of the three days’ session.
“It is important for our nation to look and have an institution for peace in ensuring that we are productive and comfortable in executing our job of serving the nation,” the Minister ended.
Hawa Sally Samai, Executive Secretary for the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, said the overall goal of the retreat is to initiate the process of developing a 5-year Strategic Plan for the ICPNC, in consultation with national stakeholders and donor partners.
She went on to say they have so many recommendations from the Bintunami 3, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Mid Term Plan and the Africa Agenda 2063 but they want to see how they could think strategically looking at Sierra Leone context and how they could priorities those recommendations to make sure they have a peaceful and cohesive nation.
The Executive Secretary emphasized that they could not brainstorm on their own, that is why they have partners that are involve in peacebuilding and also have cross cutting issues with ICPNC to be able to put up a draft which will be reviewed by the board.
Madam Samai is of the expectation of having different consultations during the process follow by a final validation by Civil Society Organizations before they would be able to have a proper strategic document for the institution to work on and people will use it to assess them and collaborate with donor and non-donor partners and the nation as a whole.
She assured that with every strategic plan there are indicators it not just our responsibility but the nation responsibility to look at this plan that they meet all what they say they will implement what they say throughout the 5-year plan.
