Acceptance speech by HE, the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma at the Accord African Peace Award in Durban, South Africa, 30 April, 2010

Your Excellency and dear brother,

President Jacob Zuma;

Your Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini;

Madam Graca Machel;

Honourable Ministers; Members of Parliament;

Lord Mayor;

Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps;

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is with profound gratitude and humility that I receive this coveted Africa Peace Award on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone. Todayâ€™s award ceremony is in recognition of the resilience, candour and dedicated commitment of the people of Sierra Leone to the attainment of lasting peace and democracy in our country.

In receiving this award, I would like to, first and foremost, convey the sincere appreciation of the Government and People of Sierra Leone to the Government and People of South Africa who, at various stages of our crisis and to date, have stood steadfastly by us in both our search for enduring peace and our national recovery efforts. The recent signing of the Tripartite Cooperation Agreement involving the Governments of South Africa, Cuba and Sierra Leone designed to boost the heathcare delivery in my country further strengthened the long and excellent bilateral relations between our sister Republics.Â Our expression of gratitude will not be complete if I fail to pay a special tribute to the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) for its foresight in conceiving and actualising this laudable venture aimed at promoting peace, democarcy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in our continent.

Your Excellency, Your Majesty, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the symbolism in such a memorable event hosted today by ACCORD at the behest of the Government and People of South Africa exudes similarity in the peace and reconciliation trajectory of our respective societies, following harsh historical circumstances.Â But perhaps a more pertinent reference is the lesson drawn from South Africaâ€™s peacebuilding experience bordering on the tremendous role played by the Truth Commission that eased race relations leading to national reconciliation, respect for diversity and a mutual co-existence.

As a nation, we needlessly toiled through 11-years of carnage, brutality and a dastardly devastation of social and economic infrastructure across the entire country. But dare I say, the worst is over. And secured in the conviction that with peace and stability everything else is possible, we made a conscious choice in aspiring for the highest goal â€“ PEACE, through reconciliation and peaceful co-existence as a people but made no room for impunity. We embraced the two-pronged approach to healing the scars of war and rendering justice by instituting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL).

Chairperson, Excellency, Your Majesty, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is no gainsaying that indeed, Sierra Leone has had a unique experience in its journey from conflict to a comprehensive peace process. With the help of the international community and development partners, both bilateral and multilateral, we have been able to accomplish the reform of our security and justice sectors subsequent upon the successful but difficult conclusion of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme, resulting in the demobilisation of over 70,000 men, women and children under arms. In less than a decade following the formal declaration of the end of the war in January 2002, we have also taken the unprecedented stride of undertaking two democratic electioneering processes, both at the local and central government levels. And as recently as in 2007, the nation witnessed a transfer of power from an incumbent ruling party to the opposition through the ballot box. This is a clear manifestation of the emergence of the political maturity of the people of Sierra Leone. THIS AWARD IS ESPECIALLY DEDICATED TO OUR AMPUTEE COMPATRIOTS, who constantly endure the psycho-physical reminder of our inglorious past.

Since the adoption of the country on the agenda of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, we have also made steady progress in consolidating peace through support of a range of quick impact projects such as those relating to the strengthening and rehabilitation of relevant institutions and facilities for the delivery of services ranging from the promotion and protection of human, political and civic rights to the provision of basic services like healthcare and education, among others.

Guided by my governmentâ€™s primary policy document, the Agenda for Change, we are designing and implementing programmes to increase agricultural productivity, enhance infrastructural development, and transform the power sector. All of these programmes are intended to reinvigorate the economy to generate wealth and create employment especially for the countryâ€™s surging unemployed youth population. We have taken measures to combat corruption as well as the emerging scourge of narcotic drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. Progress in these areas has earned the country the well acclaimed respective ratings by the Mo Ibrahim Governance Index, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Doing Business.

Chairperson,

I would like to conclude my brief acceptance remarks by reiterating our appreciation for this enviable recognition. Let me also state that these accolades, well-meaning and deserved as they may be are not an end in themselves nor are they intended to make us complacent. It is a beginning of a long walk to sustained economic growth to prosperity. I am graciously taking leave of this august body with a renewed commitment, dedication and vigour to extricate my people out of ignorance, poverty and political exclusion. And I look forward to pursuing this journey with you all as we have always done.

I thank you for your kind attention.Â Â Â

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