Chief Justice Kamanda and Attorney General Pledge to Strengthen Justice Sector Reforms

Freetown, 16th January 2025 – In a decisive step towards strengthening Sierra Leone’s justice system, the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Komba Kamanda (JSC), has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to judicial independence, efficiency, and public trust. This assurance came during a high-level engagement with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., at the Chief Justice’s Chambers in the Main Law Courts Building, Freetown.

The Attorney General’s visit—his first official engagement with the Judiciary since assuming office in December—signified a renewed commitment by the government to making justice truly accessible, transparent, and accountable to all Sierra Leoneans. He emphasized that the administration is determined to work closely with all justice sector institutions to fully implement the Justice Sector Reform Strategy, a bold initiative launched by President Julius Maada Bio on September 12, 2024.

This ambitious reform agenda, he explained, is built on four fundamental pillars:
1. Expanding access to justice by placing citizens at the heart of the system.
2. Accelerating case resolution through training and digital transformation.
3. Upholding human rights and reinforcing the rule of law.
4. Enhancing institutional efficiency to ensure faster, more effective service delivery.

The Attorney General underscored the urgent need for greater coordination among key justice sector stakeholders, including the Sierra Leone Police, the Attorney General’s Office, the Judiciary, Correctional Services, and local communities. By fostering stronger partnerships and streamlined operations, he asserted, the justice system can be transformed into a reliable, efficient, and equitable institution that commands public confidence.

Crucially, he highlighted the imperative to decentralize the justice system, ensuring that legal services are no longer concentrated in Freetown but extended to all regions of the country. This, he affirmed, will ensure that every citizen, regardless of geography, has equal access to a professional and impartial justice system.

In response, Chief Justice Kamanda welcomed the government’s commitment to reform and pledged his full support in realizing a modern, transparent, and independent judiciary. He stressed that a fair and impartial judiciary is the bedrock of democracy, essential for upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights, and maintaining national stability.

He acknowledged the growing public skepticism towards the justice system and vowed to confront these concerns head-on by strengthening professionalism, eliminating inefficiencies, and restoring faith in judicial processes. His leadership, he declared, will be driven by a singular vision: to build a judiciary that operates without bias, functions with transparency, and delivers swift and equitable justice to all citizens.

The Attorney General, in closing, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the independence of the judiciary at all times. His assurance signals a transformative new era of collaboration between the executive and judicial arms of government, aimed at establishing a justice system that truly serves the people.

As these critical reforms take shape, legal professionals, human rights advocates, and citizens alike will be closely monitoring their implementation, with high expectations for meaningful improvements in case resolution, judicial efficiency, and access to justice across Sierra Leone.