By Janet A. Sesay
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the Group of Seven Plus (G7+) organisation met on Wednesday, 1st May, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown where they held their first in-person official meeting to facilitate the exchange of experiences and lessons learned from Sierra Leone’s journey in peace and state building which can inform and inspire other member states.
The vision of the meeting was themed “Goodbye Conflict, Welcome Development” they hope the ministry and organisation would embark on.
The G7+ group is presently in 20 (twenty) countries and is involved in the promotion of peace and sustainable development.
Their work also involves reviewing progress and strategic positioning, assessing the progress made by G7+ over the past years and establishing a consensus on how best to position the group in the current global landscape, characterised by dynamic changes in international politics.
Speaking to the media during a press conference at the said hotel, Helder da Costa, General Secretary of G7+, said theirs is an intergovernmental organisation of countries that promotes peace and stability through concerted advocacy and facilities, and the sharing of experiences on peace and state building.
Mr. da Costa said the G7+ group was founded on the spirit of voluntarism, solidarity and cooperation, adding that the G7+ is headquartered in Dili, Timor-Leste, with a hub in Lisbon, Portugal.
He added that the vision of the G7+ group is for member states to achieve and sustain peace and stability. Secretary Costa said the G7+ group pursues its vision through supporting national dialogue and reconciliation, advocacy for country led and owned policies of engagement and facilitating the sharing of experiences and cooperation among member countries.
He furthered that since its inception, G7+ has achieved significant milestones on the global stage, adding that the group has also emerged as a key platform for conflict affected and fragile countries to engage in discussions on peace and state building.
Da Costa went on that the group’s Observer Status at the United Nations has strengthened its capacity to advocate collectively with greater influence.
Furthermore, he said the G7+ organisation has expanded its scope of peer learning activities including the recent launch of the G7+ election observation mission.
Madam Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, in her statement said this kind of engagement has been going on since it was established in 2010, adding that G7+ has a unique opportunity to consolidate its membership and articulate the priorities of its member countries amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics.
She said this official meeting will serve as a crucial platform for in-depth discussions on the priorities to be presented at the upcoming ministerial meeting, adding that it will provide an opportunity for member countries to collectively strategize and advocate for their interest in the face of evolving global challenges.
Minister Barlay further added that the meeting aims to reaffirm the commitment of the G7+ group to promote peace, stability and sustainable development in conflict affected and fragile countries.