By Amin Kef (Ranger)
If there is one person that deserves honour then it must Rev Dr. Shodankeh Johnson, Chairman of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), commonly known as the Peace Commission, Board, who has worked selflessly and assiduously in areas that have transformed lives, communities and institutions.
Rev Dr. Shodankeh Johnson was, on the 20th May, 2023 the latest and proud recipient of the prestigious William Wilberforce Award from the Colson Center in the USA during an auspicious event that was held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Indianapolis and has become the 1st African to be awarded in recognition of his role as a Pastor, Church Planter and Reformer.
It must be noted that the William Wilberforce Award is an annual award that is presented by the Colson Center to a Christian leader who has made a lasting difference in his or her sphere of influence, demonstrating the same principled courage as British abolitionist William Wilberforce. The honour was also in recognition of Rev Johnson’s transformative drive in his home country of Sierra Leone and abroad.
It could be recalled that Rev. Shodankeh Johnson was recently overwhelmingly approved by Members of Parliament in the Well replacing Sheka Mansaray who resigned last year due to health reasons.
Members of Parliament in their submissions in the Well, prior to the approval, described Rev Johnson as a developmentally oriented national figure, a renowned man of God and a spiritual father to many.
They commended His Excellency the President for appointing such a visionary leader with the right pedigree for the job, noting that he has not only being complementing the efforts of the Government in the areas of education and health, but has also helped in transforming the lives of many Sierra Leoneans especially the youths across the country.
The Members of Parliament maintained that they have no doubt that with his wealth of experience in the area of peace building, he will live up to the expectations of the President and that the Commission as a whole will be able to achieve its objectives.
Speaker of Parliament while congratulating the new Chairman, also reiterated the importance for the Commission to be empowered to able to achieve its goals
Prior to his appointment, Rev Johnson served as a Board Member in the Commission. He was born to a Creole father from Waterloo and a Sherbro mother from Bonthe.
He is a church leader, a consultant leadership trainer/mentor working with churches and para-church organizations and leaders across the global. He is the Founder and Executive President of the New Harvest Global Ministries in Sierra Leone and other twenty African, Asian and Latin American Countries.
He is the Proprietor of the New Song Radio Stations in Bo, Koidu and Makeni, the Founder and Chancellor of Every Nation College Bo, Proprietor of 7 Nursery, 59 Primary, 20 Junior and 4 Senior Secondary Schools in the country and a Technical Institute.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Harvest Development Office NEHADO, a local NGO complementing the efforts of Government in the areas of Primary Healthcare (4 Health centers in Bo, Falaba and Kailahun Districts), water and Sanitation, Agriculture, Child Protection, Right -Based Advocacy and livelihood development.
Rev Johnson holds a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Theology (Missions) and is currently a PHD Candidate. He was also conferred an honorary doctorate degree for his achievements and proficient Christian Leadership by the Christ Life Theological Seminary, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.
He was also Founder and Chairman of the Makeni and Bo Council of Church Ministers and a Lecturer at Flaming Bible School.
