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Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, received the Annual Report and Strategic Plan of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC).
During the engagement, Chief Minister Sengeh commended the work of ICPNC, describing the Commission’s role in promoting peace, accountability, and national cohesion as critical to Sierra Leone’s continued development.
The ICPNC delegation was led by Board Chair Rev. Shodankeh Johnson and included Executive Secretary Hawa Sally Samai and members of the Commission’s senior management team.
Presenting the report and Strategic Plan on behalf of the Commission, Rev. Johnson highlighted ICPNC’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the fulfilment of its statutory responsibilities.
He explained that, under the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion Act, the Commission is required to submit an annual report to the relevant Minister within three months after the end of each financial year, outlining the performance of its functions, policies, and programmes.
Rev. Johnson said the submission of the 2025 Annual Report demonstrates the Commission’s compliance with this legal obligation while providing stakeholders with an overview of its activities, achievements, challenges, and future strategic direction.
Chief Minister Sengeh emphasised the importance of strong institutions in supporting national development and sustaining peace. He noted that ongoing discussions around constitutional reforms and governance improvements highlight the need for institutions with clearly defined responsibilities to monitor progress and promote accountability.
He acknowledged ICPNC’s role in tracking peace and cohesion-related developments, stressing that institutions with such mandates are essential in ensuring that national commitments towards stability and development are effectively implemented.
The Chief Minister also encouraged the Commission to continue strengthening its communication and public engagement efforts, noting that effective communication is important in helping citizens, policymakers, and stakeholders understand initiatives aimed at promoting peace and addressing national challenges.
Providing an overview of ICPNC’s work, Executive Secretary Hawa Sally Samai highlighted the Commission’s nationwide peace monitoring and early warning mechanisms, which involve peace monitors, civil society organisations, media practitioners, security institutions, and other stakeholders across the country.
She also highlighted ICPNC’s contribution to promoting peaceful democratic participation, noting that the Commission monitored lower-level elections within both the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) to encourage tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful political engagement.
Samai further stressed that ICPNC remains impartial in its engagements, working with political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, communities, and other stakeholders to promote issue-based dialogue and prevent conflicts.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of sustained dialogue, accountability, and collective action in consolidating Sierra Leone’s peacebuilding gains and fostering a more cohesive society.
