As Sierra Leone observed National Remembrance Day on 18 January under the theme “Never Again,” the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, paid a solemn visit to the Peace Museum on Jomo Kenyatta Road, Freetown, describing the moment as one undertaken with a heavy heart and a clear sense of national duty.

Standing in what he called a sacred space, the Minister reflected not only in his official capacity, but also as a citizen shaped by the country’s painful history. In the Memorial Garden, he stood among the 16 concrete slabs representing mass graves from each of Sierra Leone’s 16 districts-sobering symbols that the 11-year civil war spared no community and no family.

The Minister was particularly moved by the powerful sculpture, “The Suffering of Innocents,” which depicts a woman pleading with combatants to spare her child. He described the artwork as a haunting reminder of the devastating civilian toll of the conflict, and of the profound suffering endured by children.

With his hand over his heart, he reflected on how the war destroyed the education system, displaced learners and teachers, and robbed an entire generation of young people of stability, learning, and hope.

Related News

He emphasized that the visit was intentional and directly linked to the civic education mandate of his ministry. According to the Minister, education remains the strongest weapon against the forces that once tore the nation apart-tribalism, regionalism, hate speech, intolerance, and violence.

He noted that when children understand the true cost of conflict, they are better prepared to protect the peace the country now enjoys.

While reflecting on the past, the Minister also acknowledged the leadership that guided Sierra Leone from war to peace, highlighting President Julius Maada Bio’s role in ending the conflict and consolidating peace as a defining chapter in the nation’s history. He said the peace enjoyed today was hard-won and forms the foundation upon which the country continues to rebuild its schools and invest in its youth.

Referencing the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the Minister recalled its emphasis on placing young people and education at the centre of lasting national healing. He expressed strong support for making an abridged version of the TRC recommendations compulsory reading for all pupils, to help them understand the nation’s past and their responsibility to ensure that “never again” becomes a lifelong commitment rather than a slogan.

The Minister stressed that National Remembrance Day is not only about mourning the past, but also about recommitting to the future. He assured the public that measures are being strengthened to keep schools safe and to ensure that the horrors of war are never repeated.

As the week of remembrance continues, he called on all Sierra Leoneans to reflect on the devastating impact of the war on children and the education system, to honour the victims and survivors, and to renew the collective resolve to safeguard the peace for the sake of present and future generations.