Statement by the Ecumenical Delegation on Solidarity Visit to the Christian Council of Guinea (Conakry) and People of Guinea
16 – 21 November 2006
We, members of the Ecumenical Delegation from Church World Service (CWS) and the Fellowship of the Christian Councils of Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) arrived in Conakry on the 16 th November 2006 and were warmly welcomed by the Christian Council of Guinea officials led by the Rt. Rev. Albert David Gomez. We are indeed grateful to the His Excellency, Mr. Lansana Conté, President of the Republic of Guinea, his Government and the People of Guinea for the warm hospitality accorded us during our visit.
During our visit we were privileged to hold discussions with major stakeholders of the Republic of Guinea including the Presidium of the Christian Council of Guinea, the Honourable Minister of State in charge of Presidential Affairs, His Excellency Jackson McDonald, Ambassador of the United States of America, Five members of the Majority Party in Parliament including the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and three women representing the National Women’s Committee, Five representatives of Four Opposition Political Parties including a Youth representative from one of the parties. We also met with high level representatives of Civil Society, the National Council of Communication, the Acting President and members of the National Assembly, the General Secretary of the National Islamic League and the Head of United Nations operations in Guinea.
At the end of our visit, following the various encounters with high profile leadership of the stakeholders of the Republic of Guinea, we agreed as follows:
- That the Republic of Guinea enjoys a high tolerance of peaceful co-existence among people of different faiths despite its high Muslim majority.
- That the Government has a stated commitment to freedom of religion, the lawful practice of faith, and the recognition of all Guineans as citizens without discrimination.
- That religious extremism is not tolerated by the Government.
- That the Government in partnership with Civil Society must seriously search for ways to address the political, social, and economic challenges confronting the peace of the nation.
- That the youth of Guinea need to be given equal opportunity to pursue their education on the basis of academic performance; along with guarantees of school safety and healthcare.
- That special attention is given to reversing the reality that the women of Guinea have been disproportionately affected by the stresses of a struggling economy. It was made clear that women have shouldered the care of family life with very limited resources, and are under-represented in the legislative process. In this respect, consideration needs to be given towards the economic empowerment of women.
The stakeholders articulated the impatience and fatigue of the nation, arising out of current conditions of poverty and suffering, and their national response and burden precipitated by regional crises. Without exception they stated the urgency of effecting change to the benefit of the whole nation.
The Stakeholder Dialogue currently taking place under the leadership of the Steering Committee of the National Meeting of Actors in Development deserves commendation and support. It is gratifying to note also that the Christian Council of Guinea is recognized for its prophetic witness and capacity as a reconciling presence.
- We call upon the Council to in turn consider a broader convening of stakeholders, including government, opposition parties, business, civil society, and the religious community in an effort to reach consensus on the future of Guinea, the development of its people, and the stability of the nation.
- Given the clear signal that the major stakeholders are ready to dialogue and move the country forward, and the fact that the withholding of funding has had devastating impacts on women and children, we call on the international community and its economic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, and The World Bank to consider seriously opening dialogue with Guinea towards the resumption of funding.
As a delegation, we conclude our visit with a plea to God Almighty to look at Guinea with love and mercy, and inspire it with a common vision built on the foundation of peace and justice.
| Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director & CEO Church World Service (CWS) United States of America |
Baffour D. Amoa, Secretary General of the Fellowship of Christian Councils & Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) |
Conakry, Guinea.
20th November 2006