As National Remembrance Week continues, the executive of the Amputee and War Wounded Association on Thursday, January 15, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor A. Bah, at his office in the Youyi Building. The visit aimed to engage the Minister on the observance of National Remembrance Day and to formally present the Association’s concerns to Government.
During the brief but productive meeting, the Association’s Minister of Education, Tamba Finor, expressed appreciation to Minister Bah for granting them an audience. He noted that the Association had made several attempts over the years to engage government officials without success, making the meeting particularly meaningful to the group.
Mr. Finor commended the Government for declaring National Remembrance Day, describing it as a key recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) intended to honour war victims and survivors. However, he urged the Government to urgently address the issue of reparations, another major recommendation of the TRC. He emphasized that war victims have lived with pain, trauma, and distress for more than two decades and therefore deserve meaningful compensation. He appealed to Minister Bah to engage the President on the matter.
The President of the Association, Mohamed Tarawally, outlined several priority demands contained in the TRC recommendations, including free university education, free medical care, and improved livelihood support for war victims. He stressed that addressing these issues should go beyond Cabinet discussions and be taken to Parliament to ensure they are enacted into law.
In his response, Minister Chernor A. Bah commended the leadership and members of the Association for their resilience and continued commitment to peace and national cohesion. He described their concerns as reasonable and legitimate, and pledged to engage his colleague Ministers to advance the issues raised.
“President Bio is committed to addressing issues arising from the war, particularly the implementation of the recommendations of the TRC Report. Declaring January 18 as National Remembrance Day is only the first step in spotlighting the plight of war victims and survivors. Your concerns are already captured in the Persons with Disability Act, and we will work together to ensure its effective enforcement,” Minister Bah stated.
He further requested a comprehensive database of the Association’s membership to serve as a baseline for policy formulation, noting that accurate data would greatly support Government’s efforts in addressing the concerns raised.
Sierra Leone continues to observe National Remembrance Week in honour of the victims and survivors of the country’s eleven-year civil war. Citizens are encouraged to participate in the commemoration by wearing white ribbons or white clothing throughout the week, symbolizing reflection, solidarity, and a collective commitment to building a peaceful, stable, and cohesive nation.
