NDC Director Warns Governance Failures Could Threaten Sierra Leone’s Peace

The Director of Programmes at the National Commission for Democracy (NDC), Reverend Gibrila Kargbo, has warned that persistent governance challenges pose a serious threat to Sierra Leone’s peace and stability, cautioning that failure to address them could risk a return to instability.

Speaking on AYV Television’s Wake Up Sierra Leone programme, Reverend Kargbo identified poor governance as a key factor that fuelled the country’s decade-long civil war. He noted that many structural and institutional weaknesses that contributed to the conflict remain unresolved, raising concerns about whether sufficient lessons have been learned from the past.

He explained that when democratic institutions fail to function effectively, citizens may feel compelled to resort to unlawful or non-democratic means to resolve grievances. Such conditions, if left unchecked, could undermine national cohesion and threaten hard-won peace.

According to the NDC Director, safeguarding stability requires more than rhetoric; it demands practical policy actions to address governance gaps. He emphasised that accountability, inclusive governance, and effective service delivery are central to maintaining public trust in democratic systems.

Reverend Kargbo recalled the January 6, 1999, invasion of Freetown as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of governance failure. He urged authorities to operate strictly within democratic and constitutional boundaries to prevent similar events from recurring.

He stressed that preventing a return to instability is a shared responsibility, requiring coordinated efforts from government, public institutions, and citizens. Sustained civic engagement, he said, is essential to strengthening democracy and ensuring governance systems remain responsive to the people’s needs.

He concluded by warning that neglecting accountability and inclusivity could erode democratic gains and threaten Sierra Leone’s long-term stability, reinforcing the need for continuous vigilance in protecting peace and democratic governance.