By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Judges, magistrates and staff of Sierra Leone’s Judiciary have paid tribute to Chief Justice Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda following the successful completion of his tenure as Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, praising his regional leadership and the reforms introduced under his stewardship of the country’s judicial system.
During a ceremony held on Thursday at the Judges Conference Centre within the Main Law Courts Building on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, members of the Superior Court of Judicature expressed what they described as their appreciation for the Chief Justice’s achievements both within Sierra Leone and across the West African sub-region.
According to a statement issued by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone’s Communications and Public Affairs Unit, the event brought together judges from the Superior Courts, magistrates and members of the Judiciary’s support staff to recognise Justice Kamanda’s contribution to judicial administration.
Speaking at the ceremony, Supreme Court Judge Hon. Justice Tonia Barnett said Justice Kamanda’s tenure as Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council had strengthened Sierra Leone’s standing within the regional judicial community.
She recalled that following his appointment during the ECOWAS Judicial Council meeting hosted in Sierra Leone in April 2026, the Chief Justice presided over a high-level gathering of Chief Justices, judges and senior judicial officials from across West Africa.
Justice Barnett said the regional meeting focused on strengthening justice systems across ECOWAS member states by promoting judicial cooperation, advancing the rule of law, improving the administration of justice and deepening regional integration.
She added that reports from both national and international media indicated that the meeting had been successfully organised and helped project Sierra Leone’s image positively on the international stage.
Also addressing the gathering, Hon. Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi of the Supreme Court commended Justice Kamanda’s domestic reforms since assuming office as Chief Justice.
According to the Judiciary’s statement, Justice Alhadi highlighted what she described as significant improvements, including the construction of modern court buildings across the country, the expansion of Court of Appeal sittings to the provinces, increased use of bail applications where appropriate and efforts to ensure cases are heard more expeditiously.
“Notwithstanding his successful term as Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda has made uncountable reforms in the Judiciary of Sierra Leone,” Justice Alhadi was quoted as saying.
A senior Judiciary staff member with more than sixteen years of service also praised the Chief Justice, describing him as one of the institution’s most impactful leaders as the Judiciary prepares to conclude the current judicial year ahead of the commencement of a new legal year in September.
Responding to the tributes, Chief Justice Kamanda said he was deeply humbled by what he described as a thoughtful and unexpected recognition from his fellow judges and colleagues.
According to the Judiciary’s statement, he said serving as Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council had been both an honour and a responsibility that reinforced the importance of unity, judicial cooperation and commitment to the rule of law throughout the West African sub-region.
He noted that the Council, comprising the Chief Justices of ECOWAS member states, plays a critical role in strengthening collaboration among national judiciaries and advancing the administration of justice across the region.
Justice Kamanda dedicated the recognition to the entire Judiciary of Sierra Leone, saying its collective professionalism, resilience and commitment had contributed to the progress being celebrated.
He also pledged to continue pursuing reforms aimed at strengthening judicial independence, improving public confidence and building a more responsive justice system.
The ceremony concluded with the cutting of a commemorative cake to mark the Chief Justice’s successful completion of his regional assignment.
The event comes as Sierra Leone’s Judiciary prepares to close the 2025/2026 judicial year before the opening of the new legal year in September.
