The Democrat, Freetown, December 23, 2002:

Peace Trees Planted as HOPE Brings Hope

A non-governmental organization, HOPE Sierra Leone, founded in Denmark by a Sierra Leonean, John Bangura, with the aim of re-building bridges of forgiveness, honesty and love to foster reconciliation in the country has embarked on moral rearmament, peace tree planting and reconciliation of ex-combatants in Makeni and Bo.

Speaking at a well attended ceremony during a peace tree planting exercise in Bo recently the Minister of Internal Affairs Chief Sam Hinga Norman, expressed delight at the bold step taken by the organisation and its founder.

He noted that there will be no peace in the country if the citizens are not at peace with each other and that the tree planting was a manifestation of the faith Sierra Leoneans had in the just achieved peace described by many as “fragile”.

Chief Norman admonished Sierra Leoneans to do away with greed, selfishness, fear and hate as stipulated in the brochure of Hope Sierra Leone.

The founder of Hope Sierra Leone Mr. John Bangura said he was extremely pleased with the very encouraging attendance revealing that the day was a fulfilment of the vision he had in Tanzania in 1999 to rise up and work for his people. He added “I am here to share with you, for your own benefits the moral and spiritual standards that will form the pillars of our nation’s development.” The ex-combatants are also set to benefit from several development projects the organisation shall be implementing.

The Peace Director (CDF) Mr. Moinina Fofanah described the occasion as a reconciliation of once deadly foes and rivals. He particularly thanked members of RUFP for being in attendance.

Hope Sierra Leone also has agriculture as a major priority. The organisation has a 24 acre swamp rice farm at Tombo with a labour force of over 150 people.

The chairman of the Association at Tombo Pa Gbassay Kamara told this press that as the name implied the organisation had indeed brought hope and new changes in the lives of the community people. He called for increased participation for self reliance.

Special report by journalist Ibrahim Seibureh, March 16th, 2002

Hope - Sierra Leone initiates “clean election campaign”

Hope - Sierra Leone a local NGO has taken the bold step to sensitize and educate voters and politicians and political parties on how to avoid violence in  the forthcoming elections.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony on Monday at the Civil Society Movement, CSM , office, the founder of Hope Sierra Leone, Mr. John Bangura said, over the years, elections in Sierra Leone had been characterised with gross misuse of youths, women, drugs, which were associated with violence, terror, intimidation and victimization. Speaking to Concord Times, Bangura said, the aim of “clean election campaign” is to help rebuild the moral foundations of “our new democracy, help create awareness amongst the people on their rights, liberties and responsibilities”.
In addition, he said it will help the people understand and integrate values represented by other strong democracy in the world, help minimize drastically, if not completely eradicate the degree of violence the nation used to experience during elections.

“We also want  to help transform the mentality of our people both young and old from the cruel reality of taking part directly or indirectly in election malpractices, and to remove the long tradition of selling and buying votes and rigging of elections,” he said. The presentation ceremony was witnessed by representatives from U.S. British High Commission, governments, civil society groups, NGOs, students, political parties and trade unions.