As Liberia, joins other countries around the World to celebrate the International Day of peace, the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation has organized a day -Long peace dialogue aimed at maintaining the peace and stability of the country.
The day-long program brought together state securities from across the security sector of the Country to include: Ambassadors, Development Partner, Members of the Armed forces of Liberia, Liberia Immigration Service, The Liberia National Police, and Students from across the seventeen electoral Districts of Montserrado County, Religious Leaders, members of the joint security amongst other.
Serving as Keynote speaker at the occasion, the Ambassador of the Economic Community of West African State reaffirmed “ECOWAS’s Commitment to a strong partnership to Liberia peace.
According to Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, the issue of ethnicity in Africa is a major factor affecting the growth and Development of the Sub-Region. The ECOWAS representative noted that the lack of equitable distribution of the country’s natural resources undermines the peace and tranquility of any nation.
Ambassador Nkrumah mention that the Liberian civil conflict derived from the Division of Ethnicity where one group felt that they were in charge and protecting particular groups while the other were doing the opposite and the conflict degenerate into a Slater where thousands of citizens and other nationals died. She used the occasion to caution Liberians to learn from the past and remember the difficult days and not repeat such.
Madam Nkrumah at the same time called on politicians not to take advantage of divisive politics to gain relevance as it has the propensity of undermining the Developmental agenda of the country.
She stressed that the sustainability of peace in the country lies in the hands of Liberians as such they should do away with negative activities that have the tensity of derailing the peace of the country.
The ECOWAS representative noted that Liberians have everything to continue to be proud of, adding that the peace they continue to enjoy; the International community and developing partners have invested hugely in maintaining the peace of the country as such, it is incumbent upon every citizen to maintain the peace.
The international day of peace is observed worldwide and this year’s event is sponsored by Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict and Transformation in collaboration with Alpha phi Fraternity Under the theme: “Ethnicity: A Threat to Peace and Stability in Liberia”.
The Armed Forces of Liberia won this year’s Alpha peace award in honor of the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
For his part, the Former Managing Director of the Free Port of Monrovia also one of the organizers of this year’s event T. Nelson Williams called on Liberians to sustain the peace of the country. Mr. Williams noted that the Alpha peace award presented to the AFL, is based on their numerous contribution towards the sustainability of peace in the west African countries and the award ceremony will be an annual event.
The program was held Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at the University of Liberia Auditorium on Capitol Hill in Monrovia.
Reported by: Joseph N. Kerkula
Email: jnkerkula@gmail.com
Contact: +231777376826
