Muslim and Christian Religious Leaders have been trained on Alternative Dispute Resolutions and related topics. The two-day (1st-2nd August) training workshop at Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL)Conference Hall Freetown aims at empowering religious leaders to engage and strengthening advocacy on peace, good governance, human rights and gender justice.
Rev. James A. B. Fonah from Methodist Church Sierra Leone said individual perceptions and responses have affected conflict resolution and “the winner takes it all” is a problem in Sierra Leone. He said “it would be good for Africa to design a ‘shared democracy’ in which parties in an election share governance as per their percentages of the election result. He warned that until the church becomes One, they would not have much effect.
Haja Mariama Kamara representing side by Side said truth is an important element to solve conflict and religious leaders must always stand for the truth.
Alfred Moses Kamara, President of Radio Maria stated that truth, mercy and justice are important elements in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He said it is only when these elements are visible and are in practice that the process of ADR can be successful.
The National Coordinator of the Inter Religious Council, Rev Alimany P. Kargbo said everyone has a role to play in conflict resolution relating it to parts of the body and the significance of each part. He continued, “stealing and lying at all levels has become a symbol in Sierra Leone.” He pointed out that religious leaders must ‘take the bull by the horn’ to remove Sierra Leone from its problems.
Bishop Arnold Temple of the Ecumenical response CCSL emphasized that there can be “no peace where justice, truth and mercy are absent.” He said religious leaders have always intervened in various situations that has caused or has the tendency to cause unrest in the country, but they have not been making show of it. He noted that conflict is inevitable in every society and religious leaders are called to mediate disputes because “we are our ambassadors of reconciliation for Christ’s sake.”
Alvina Thompson from Radio Maria said religious leaders should include issues of national cohesion in their messages and Sunday school teaching for the children because Sierra Leoneans are religious and they most times obey to their spiritual leaders.
Rev. Henry Samuels President of Council Churches in Sierra Leone encouraged religious leaders not to give up in doing the right things always because the people are looking up to them to speak on their behalf and if religious leaders should perform their responsibilities, they must be true to themselves first. He said CCSL will not relent but continue to capacitate religious leaders to ensure they are in the right standing to handle issues.
Rev. Daneil Koroma from the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion said if latent conflict is not handled properly, it can relapse into violent conflict.
Lead facilitators of the training Canon Rogers-Wright and Desmond George-Williams spoke extensively on phases of conflict, the church in conflict resolution, democracy, peace and national cohesion, the role of religious leaders in post-election among others.
The Religious leaders resolved that they would engage in effective dialogue on peace and national cohesion with state actors, tribal heads, market women, youth, CSOs, NGOs, EMBs etc and popularize the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Receives Council of Churches in Sierra Leone on Centenary Celebrations, Recognises Their Role in Peace-building State House, Freetown, Thursday
Please click the download buttton Download Share this post Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Latest Stories
Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) workshop for Faith Based Proprietors of Government assisted Schools held in Bo Council of Churches in Sierra Leone
4A King Harman Road, Brookfield’s, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Copyright © Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) 2024
Designed & Developed by J.M @ Meloni International
