By Foday Moriba Conteh
To enhance global recognition and influence, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Madam Kenyeh Barlay, made a compelling appeal to the member countries of the g7+ alliance. Speaking at the Senior Officials Meeting held on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, Madam Barlay stressed the importance of elevating the visibility and profile of the organization on the world stage.
The two-day gathering, convened at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown, aimed to assess progress, address challenges and chart a collective path forward for the g7+ countries. Among the key objectives was to position the alliance as a pivotal player in fostering peace and stability within member states amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s decade-long chairmanship of the g7+, the Minister underscored the country’s commitment to leveraging its leadership role to advocate for the interests of conflict-affected nations on global platforms, particularly within the United Nations. She emphasized the imperative for member states to consolidate their efforts and prepare for upcoming engagements, including those coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly.
Madam Kenyeh Barlay reiterated that fragility should not be overlooked, urging intensified international solidarity and cooperation to address pressing issues facing vulnerable countries. She emphasized the significance of advocacy to mitigate fragility risks, noting the minimal contribution of g7+ countries to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, plans were unveiled for a forthcoming visit by Pope Francis to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia, further underlining the importance of boosting the organization’s visibility.
The Summit featured insightful discussions on conflict prevention, state building and sustainable peace, drawing on the experiences of countries like Sierra Leone, which shared lessons learned from its post-war reconstruction efforts. Furthermore, collaborations with entities such as PeaceInvest were explored, aiming to identify investment opportunities to support development initiatives in g7+ nations.
Key themes addressed during the Summit included re-centering the international dialogue on peacebuilding and state building from the perspective of the g7+, as well as adopting a nexus approach to address interconnected challenges such as climate change, humanitarian crises, and sustainable development.
As the g7+ countries strive to amplify their collective voice on the global stage, Madam Kenyeh Barlay’s appeal resonates as a call to action for heightened engagement and advocacy to advance the shared goals of peace, stability and prosperity for all member states.
