Monrovia-The Mano River Union is expected to benefit from the construction of a Multimillion dollars’ football facility called a peace park by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).
By: Christopher C. Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
The peace initiative is intended to bring the four MRU countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast together in promoting peace and unity in the sub-region, and to provide them a complete football facility for the four countries to manage.
FIFA Council Member, Isha Johansen, on October 13, 2023 spearheaded a high-powered FIFA Delegation to Liberia and Sierra Leone as part of the FIFA/Mano River Union Football for Peace Initiative Project.
The Football for Peace Initiative, also called the Peace Park Initiative, was crafted with the vision of fostering peace and solidarity among neighboring countries in the sub-region, namely Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Ivory Coast using football as a tool for sustainable peace.
The countries, with intertwined histories and shared experiences, will greatly benefit from the project, as it aims to strengthen their ties and forge stronger bonds of friendship.
The project is an undertaking generously supported by the FIFA foundation which works with local projects around the world that use the power of football to effect positive social change and to address the most pressing global challenges facing underprivileged children and young people within the communities in which they operate.
As part of the process leading to the construction of the peace park a one hundred acres of land not far from the boarder with Sierra Leone and Liberia was provided by the Sierra Leonean government to FIFA.
Speaking during ceremony at the projected site Madam Isha Johansen, who is a former president of the Sierra Leonean football Association now FIFA Council member emphasized the significance of the MRU football for Peace Initiative, reiterating that “football is more than just 90 minutes on the pitch.
According to her football has the power to bring all people together and it is a great Unifier”.
“This initiative aims to harness the unifying power of football by creating a space for peace and harmony to flourish, it’s important that we support this initiative because it will also lay the foundation for grassroots football development and education. The response from the people has been overwhelmingly positive, with open arms and enthusiastic support for this initiative by community leaders and government stakeholders. “Madam Johansen said.
Making statement on behalf of the government of Liberia deputy Minister of Sports G. Andy Quimie said the Liberian Government is fully commented to t the project. He said the park will be use to play peace matches between countries that experience war to know the important of peace after war.
“All of us in the Mano River Union know that our president George Weah is the only African footballer to be crown world best player, he will be very happy to be here for the groundbreaking ceremony because this what he has pray for, to see a peace park in the MRU this will be no other better achievement under him than to see this park,”.
“One day Liberia and Sierra Leone can say let’s go to the peace park to play a friendly match because this property is closer to Liberia and Sierra Leone so all of us feel the oneness and feel a part that this property is our family and we will cherish it, on behalf of the government of Liberia we are in full support and the government will do everything possible to make sure that this peace park become a reality.” Andy told the gathering.
The program that was held on Saturday October 14, 2023 was grace by Mariana Banus Head of FIFA Foundation, Isha Johansen FIFA Council member, El Hadj Diop Wack, FIFA Regional Office Head for West and Central Africa and Dr. Eric Harrison Engineer.
Also at the program was by Ambassador Maria G. Harrison, the Secretary-General of the Mano River Union who hailed FIFA for such project.