By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Search for common ground, a non-governmental Organization that has been working on conflict resolution mechanisms across Sierra Leone since year 2000 will soon fold up in the country.
Speaking at a stakeholder’s engagement session with youth groups, civil society organizations, councilors and other local authorities on conflict sensitive issues during electioneering processes, Project Officer Sierra Leone elections dialogue series Abubakar Swaray said the media component of the organization, the Talking Drums Studio will take over all activities from the parent body.
Giving an overview of the engagement held in Kenema on the 28th of April this year, he said the aim of the dialogue sessions with various partners was to validate and discuss issues concerning the peace and security of the nation.
He described the engagement as a follow up to similar meetings held a month ago during which participants highlighted some of the issues relating to the peace and security of the district.
He highlighted the marginalization of women in politics, hate speech among supporters of various political parties, genders-based violence and political intimidation within and among different political parties as the main issues of concern.
Councilor Kension Brima from Kenema district commended SFCG for supporting the governance system of Sierra Leone especially Kenema district and drew the attention of civil society organisations to the need to expand into mining areas like Boajibu, Konta, Togo fields “which are hot spot areas for conflicts during electioneering period”.
Councilor Aminata Rogers referred to the program as educative and timely and advised the organizations to start engaging the communities and political parties now and not wait for the eve of elections when things might have gone bad.
Madam Rogers warned the implementers of the project to be cautions in selecting those that will be serving as hate speech monitors at chiefdoms and community level so they do not end up selecting people that will be politically one sided.
A religious leader Sheik Amara Konneh said, Sierra Leone has suffered for too long as a result of political intolerance and “that has brought division among families and communities but as religious bodies, we want to call the attention of SFCG and those that will be taking over to involve the inter-religious council in some of their activities since religious groups have large congregations”.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 30/04/21
