Freetown, 5th August 2026 – The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) has launched nominations for its fifth anniversary Peace Recognition Awards, inviting citizens and institutions nationwide to honor individuals and organizations that have played a vital role in strengthening peace, reconciliation, and national unity.
The awards, which will celebrate contributions made from 1991 to the present, will recognize both living and posthumous nominees. Executive Secretary of ICPNC, Hawa Sally Samai, emphasized the importance of acknowledging those who have worked tirelessly to sustain Sierra Leone’s peace journey.
“Peace is built through the collective efforts of many people, often working quietly behind the scenes. As we mark five years of the Commission’s existence, we believe it is important to recognize and celebrate those whose commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and national cohesion has made a lasting difference to our nation,” she said.
Nominations are open from 3rd to 21st August 2026 and can be submitted via email, WhatsApp, or hard copy to ICPNC regional offices in Port Loko, Makeni, Bo, Kenema, and Freetown. Each nomination must include the nominee’s name, award category, whether they are living or deceased, and a clear explanation of their contribution to peace and cohesion, supported by evidence where possible.
The awards span 18 categories, including the Peace Champion Award, Community Peace Builder Award, Youth Peace Leadership Award, Women for Peace Award, Peace Journalism Award, and the signature ICPNC Peace Legacy Award. Institutions, communities, traditional leaders, journalists, educators, and digital advocates are among those eligible for recognition.
The Peace Recognition Awards form the centerpiece of ICPNC’s fifth anniversary celebrations under the theme “Celebrating Five Years of Building Peace.” They reaffirm the Commission’s ongoing commitment to dialogue, conflict prevention, and national cohesion.
For nominations and inquiries, citizens can contact ICPNC via Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +232 73 216165.
