Pastor Faith Okrafo-Smart, the founder of Melqosh Mission International, is calling on Sierra Leoneans to observe a minute of silence on January 6th at 11 am to honor the victims of the 11-year civil war in Sierra Leone.
In an op-ed titled “A Day of National Introspection and Retrospective Reflection,” Pastor Faith urges the nation to take this opportunity to reflect on the past and remember those who lost their lives during this devastating period.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of January 6th (J6), and we must pause for a minute of silence at 11 am to pay tribute to those who suffered as a result of the war. Let us also remember the war victims who are still alive and pray for their healing and well-being.
This day calls for deep introspection and reflection as a nation. We must ensure that Sierra Leone never experiences such barbarity again. It is evident that we have not fully healed, and there are still many war survivors, particularly war amputees, who have been forgotten and neglected.
We need to move away from groupism, tribalism, regionalism, and sectionalism, as these prejudices only breed hatred, division, and ultimately war. We must learn to love one another with the kind of love that God teaches us.
It has been twenty-five years since the majority of war amputations occurred, where our brothers brutally mutilated fellow Sierra Leoneans. We must never allow history to repeat itself. We need God to heal our land from the sins that plague us.
It is disheartening to witness the prevalence of groupism both at home and abroad. When did we learn to hate so intensely? Sierra Leoneans, let us truly love our country. Mama Salone is grieving for her children, as we have failed to take care of our war victims. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations remain unimplemented, and less than 20 percent of war amputees have survived.
These war amputees are our people, fellow citizens, and brothers and sisters. We must not forget them or neglect their needs. We should not be strangers to assisting them or turning a deaf ear to their cries. We must eradicate the spirit of selfishness and embrace unity for our collective growth and success.
A thriving nation cannot ignore the plight of the poor, especially those who were brutally victimized by their fellow citizens and now live with disabilities. We have transformed many war amputees into beggars, subjecting them to a life of torture with no access to healthcare, reparations, or the opportunity to live with dignity.
But despite all this, I still have hope for a healthy Sierra Leone. If each of us lends a helping hand to one person, we can work toward the well-being of our nation and rediscover the power of love. Love can vanquish revenge, bitterness, unforgiveness, and hatred.
My prayer is for God to inject our nation with the antibiotics of agape love. Sierra Leone, we must ensure that such horrors never happen again. Today, on the 25th anniversary of January 6th, let us remember and never forget.
