The Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) in collaboration with 28 peace monitors from Sierra Leone and Liberian have concluded a four-day deliberation at Hotel Barmoi, Aberdeen village in Freetown, with a strategic vision for peaceful reconciliation of the Mano River Union countries.
The secretary general of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone, Sahr Kemoore Salia, expressed thanks and appreciations to all participants for their brilliant ideas and recommendations on the issues affecting people living within the Mano River Union.
He underscored the importance of peace monitors and the need to reconcile countries peacefully after the brutal war that destroyed lives and property of both countries, and the citizens’ roles in promoting conflict resolution and peace building in their respective countries.
He added that the strategic vision reinforced partner driven exchange and networking in the Mano River Region which made people live together, and promote good governance for peaceful co-existence that would strengthen institutions and expedite the rule of law.
The head of African Studies at Fourah Bay College, Professor Joe A.D Alie who also doubles as the president of SLADEA in Sierra Leone, said his organization was at the verge of celebrating its 30th anniversary this year since it was established in the country.
He catalogued some of their challenges and achievements in promoting peace and adult literacy education.
Professor Alie commended the German government for its technical and financial support in building the capacity of its partners and also supporting developmental programmes in the country, adding that they had been working in close partnership with other NGOs like GTZ, European Union and WIPNET to implement some developmental projects at various communities in the country.
The deputy head of mission of the German embassy in Sierra Leone, Christine Cranshaw, expressed thanks and appreciations to the organizers, facilitators and participants of the workshop on civil peace service and asked them to make good use of the strategic vision and implement them in both countries for effective peace and reconciliation.
She noted that the people and government of Germany remained committed to bringing peace to all nations and assured the participants and organizers of the workshop for their continuous support in building peace in post-conflict countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Marlies Roth, the programme manager for EED Africa Department based at the Great Lakes Region, and participants from Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cameroon presented the strategic vision plans for peace building and conflict resolution through peace. The executive secretary of SLADEA, Sheku Kawusu Mansaray, explained about the essence of promoting peace and reconciliation within the two countries and urged the participants to ensure that the strategic vision plan worked for the benefit of both countries and their citizenry.
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