BY MARILYN KING 

232NEWS, FREETOWN —

Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) has ended a two-day workshop targeting editors and reporters from both the print and electronic media, bloggers and members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the need to have a national conversation on reconciliation.

The conversation which took place past Wednesday and Thursday at the ICPNC office in Freetown was about misuse of social media, intolerance, hate messaging, youth unemployment, proliferation of drugs, marginalization of groups and erosion of traditional values among others were part of the problems identified by participants and deliberated upon.

ICPNC Executive Secretary, Madam Hawa Sally Samai, said the targeted beneficiaries of the workshop were deliberately chosen as they are critical persons to the conversation.

She maintained that it is important to capture the views of journalists on how they should attain reconciliation in this post-election era.

She maintained that steering a conversation of this nature by capturing the views of members of various sectors in society, including the Press, will go a long way in helping to build a country that everyone wants.

She pointed out that to a large extent the traditional media influences the social media and underscored the importance of using various platforms to disseminate the significance of attaining national reconciliation and what must be done to ensure that reconciliation is gained. 

She said that the Peace Commission started through an Act of Parliament in 2020 and started operations in 2021.

She mentioned the constraints they went through due to lack of funding which hindered their work, but that they now have a vibrant and active commission.

She thanked the media for their contributions towards their work, maintaining that Sierra Leone took 45 position out of 50 position in the global index, which makes Sierra Leone the most peaceful country in West Africa, and third most peaceful country in Africa.

Madam Samai furthered stated that the media is one that stays at every space and covering every activity, and that without the media, people will not know about happenings around world.

She noted that a lot of things that are happening in the traditional media is influencing the social media, emphasizing the importance of the traditional media.

She concluded by appreciating the media for its continuity and vibrant work.

ICPNC Board Chairman, Rev. Dr. Shodankeh Johnson, disclosed that the primary goal of bringing journalists onboard is to ensure that every voice is heard.

Rev. Johnson emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive platform that allows for open dialogue, with the intention of continuing the peace dialogue even beyond the elections.

That the ultimate aim is to help the nation become one of the most peaceful countries in Africa and that whenever people are talking, one should take it seriously.

“It is important we learn from others, once you learn from others, people will gain their respect,” Dr. Johnson said.

The Senior Legal Adviser, Nicky Spencer Coker Esq., expressed her commendation for the Peace Commission’s initiative in bringing actors from various sectors across the country to one platform for a constructive dialogue on national cohesion and peace.

She regarded this as the first step towards a more extensive and inclusive process, recognizing the need to involve even more sectors in future conversations.

Ms. Coker expressed her optimism that after the workshop, there would be widespread engagement throughout the nation.

She emphasized the significance of implementing the recommendations emanating from the two-day workshop, urging all sectors to work together in other to strengthen the fabric of national cohesion. She called for the removal of divisive elements that threaten unity and encouraged a focus on shared values that bind the nation together.

Group work of media participants climaxed the occasion.