In a bid to enhancing peace, development and democracy through dialogue and consultations among the citizenry of Sierra Leone, a non governmental organization in Sierra Leone has deemed it wise to convene a national dialogue from May 6th to 7th this year in order to consolidate peace and to promote nationhood in Sierra Leone.
In a news conference at the ENCISS Headquarters yesterday, the Executive Director of ENCISS Sybil Bailor stated that her organization is supporting the government through the office of the president to hold national dialogue on peace consolidation and promoting nationhood in the country.
The event she maintained is very crucial in the history of the country when we are confronted with a lot of challenges in consolidating peace and stability as the country approaches its 50th Independence anniversary she said. “There should be a clear need to sit together and talk as one family about the challenges facing the country to build consensus on promoting nationhood, she added..
She pointed out that Sierra Leone would be celebrating 50th year anniversary of self rule and end of colonial rule by 2011, which required us as a nation to show impact of our institutions of governance, on the development of the economy on each and every citizen.
As we approach this period full of cognizance of the challenges Sierra Leone faces , she went on ENCISS is convening this conference for all Sierra Leoneans to reflect on their actions as a nation a
nd make a choice between division and cohesion, between conflict and stability and between ethnicity and nationhood.
Adding that President Koroma has consented to lead dialogue with the ENCISS Management.
250 delegates representing all strata of opinion across the country which includes: paramount chiefs, government ministers, heads of department and agencies, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, local councilors, political parties, civil society members, security personnel, the media, the international community, private sectors, the media, former presidents and heads of state will participate in the scheduled dialogue conference at the Bank of Sierra Leone Complex in Freetown.
One of the expected key outputs of the dialogue is a communiqué that will layout a detailed programme of action for achieving the objectives agreed at the conference, and after that conference government, NGOs and political parties will be supported to develop and roll out realistic plans for trust and national cohesion building.
The following topics will be touched on: the challenges of promoting development and cohesion in a divided nation- learning from the Nigeria experience, 48 years of self rule and towards 2012, what measures are needed to make the electoral processes more open and peaceful.
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