An independent committee comprising people from diverse professional backgrounds will be established for the award ceremony. This is meant to ensure a well-coordinated and transparent award ceremony.
The first National Peace Award was conferred on Honorable Halifa Sallah for his extraordinary diligence and wonderful conflict resolution mechanism demonstrated in 2016/2017 political impasse in The Gambia.
The 2024 National Peace Award will witness great recognition to institutions, organisations and personalities.
Alasana Justice Jallow, chief executive officer (CEO) of Peace Network said the primary aim of the award is to recognise extraordinary efforts of individuals, organisations and institutions in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security in The Gambia.
“As a country in transition with numerous reforms ongoing, it was only wise to initiate the annual National Peace Award. This, we believe, will make people to be voluntary and benevolent Peace Ambassadors. Hence, it will ensure absolute peace and tranquility in The Gambia as everybody will strive to win the distinguished National Peace Award,” he said.
Mr Jallow said that peace and security are sacred, precious and important for development, noting that the national peace award is therefore here to recognise, celebrate and reward those who strive to ensure that peace and security prevails for all Gambians and people in The Gambia to achieve their goals and live meaningfully.
According to CEO Jallow, the event will be held alongside a grand gala dinner, adding that funds raised from the gala dinner will be used to complement the Government of The Gambia in promoting peace, security and national development.
He further said that in the coming days, a public outreach will be conducted nationwide for people to nominate persons, institutions and organisations that they believe have had an extraordinary impact in promoting and maintaining peace and security in the country, for the past year.
“This will not be confined to just urban areas— we will stretch far to the rural areas and ensure ultimate inclusivity in the whole process of nominations. Online platforms will as well be made available for the nomination process,” he also said.
Meanwhile, the National Peace Award was pioneered by The Peace Network management in 2022, to promote, consolidate, and encourage holistic peacebuilding in The Gambia.
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