By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma*
The judiciary is often described as the last hope of the common person. Its effectiveness determines not only whether justice is served, but also whether citizens retain confidence in the institutions that govern them. Across Africa, governments and development partners increasingly recognize that a strong, independent, and efficient judiciary is essential to democratic governance, economic growth, and social stability.
In Sierra Leone, the judiciary continues to play a central role in safeguarding the rule of law while responding to the evolving needs of a growing population. Since assuming office as Chief Justice in December 2024, His Lordship Komba Kamanda has overseen a number of reforms aimed at expanding access to justice, improving judicial administration, strengthening regional cooperation, and increasing public confidence in the courts.
Among the most notable developments under his leadership has been the historic decision to take the Court of Appeal to the provinces for the first time in the country’s history. Other initiatives include the establishment of Sexual Offences Model Courts, the expansion of magistrate court services across the country, investment in judicial training programmes, and efforts to modernize court operations through digitization.
However, the judiciary continues to grapple with significant challenges, including inadequate funding, limited infrastructure, growing case backlogs, and a shortage of judicial personnel.
In this exclusive interview with Pan African Visions, Chief Justice Komba Kamanda reflects on his first year and five months in office, discusses the state of Sierra Leone’s justice system, addresses concerns about judicial independence, and outlines his vision for a modern judiciary capable of meeting the demands of the twenty-first century.
Your Lordship, you have served as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone since December 2024. Looking back on your time in office so far, how would you describe the experience and what lessons have stood out most for you?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: I was appointed on the 20th of December 2024 as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone. It has been about one year and five months now. I thank God that we have actually been on the move.
When I took over as Chief Justice in December 2024, we made it clear that access to justice would be one of our priorities. One of the major strides we have made is ensuring that the Court of Appeal now sits in the provinces. Since the establishment of the judiciary over one hundred years ago, the Court of Appeal had never ventured into the provinces. Everybody used to come to Freetown whenever they wanted to appeal a decision from the High Court.
That created serious challenges in terms of transportation and accommodation. As a result, many citizens in the provinces were unable to proceed with their appeals because their cases remained stuck in Freetown. That was not access to justice at all.
When I assumed office, I said we had to take justice back to the people. Today, the Court of Appeal sits in the provinces and handles appeals coming from the High Court. This has significantly improved access to justice for people living outside Freetown.
Secondly, I made sure that Sexual Offences Model Courts were established in Bo and Makeni, and we are working towards opening another one in Kenema. These courts are specifically designed to handle sexual offence matters. Such cases require privacy and sensitivity. We have built structures that give victims the confidence to testify without being exposed to the public.
When I took over, the judiciary did not have a modern library. I ensured that a judiciary library was established, and today we have a sophisticated electronic library system that did not previously exist.
I also focused on expanding access to justice by opening a Magistrate Court in Mile 91, where previously there had been none. Under our access-to-justice programme, every district headquarters town now has a magistrate sitting and conducting proceedings.
We have also strengthened regional cooperation. Presently, I serve not only as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone but also as Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council. We hosted a successful meeting of Chief Justices from across West Africa in Freetown, which demonstrated the progress our judiciary continues to make.
Capacity building has also been a major focus. We established partnerships with international institutions, including a leading university in the United States that specializes in arbitration and mediation. Through these partnerships, judicial officers have benefited from valuable training opportunities.
In addition, we established cooperation with the Chinese Embassy, which enabled several judicial staff members to travel to China for specialized training programmes. We continue to invest in our judges, magistrates, and judicial staff because strengthening human capacity remains essential to building an effective judiciary.
In Kono, we renovated court facilities and ensured that the district now has a resident High Court judge. Before I assumed office, there was no resident judge in Kono, and court operations were often disrupted, especially during the rainy season. Today, those challenges have been significantly addressed.
How would you assess the current state of Sierra Leone’s judiciary in terms of efficiency, credibility, public trust, and access to justice?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: When I came in, one of the major challenges we faced was public trust in the judiciary. The judiciary can only function effectively when people believe in what we do and have confidence that justice will be done.
Today, I believe that trust has increased, and we will continue to work to ensure that public confidence continues to grow. We are also making efforts to expedite matters because justice delayed is justice denied.
One of the measures I introduced was the appointment of supervising judges. I cannot do this work alone. In the Magistrates’ Courts, I have supervising judges who monitor activities and help ensure that proceedings move efficiently. The same applies to the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Because of these supervisory mechanisms, there is now greater accountability within the system. We have also established a complaint-handling mechanism. When people complain about delays or other concerns, those matters are assigned to supervisory judges for appropriate action.
That is not to say we do not have challenges. We certainly do. One challenge is the limited number of judges and magistrates available to serve a growing population. We have a population of over eight million people, yet the number of judges and magistrates remains relatively small.
Nevertheless, we continue to deploy judicial officers where they are needed and expand the reach of the justice system so that more citizens can access the courts.
Funding and modernization have emerged as recurring themes in discussions about judicial reform. What are some of the biggest challenges currently facing the judiciary?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: Finance remains one of our greatest challenges.
My vision is to digitize the justice system. We want a system where lawyers can file their papers electronically from their chambers without necessarily coming physically to court. We want judges to be able to process matters more efficiently using modern technology.
The Fast Track Commercial Court already has a functioning digital system, and we want to replicate that across the judiciary.
However, digitization requires resources. At present, funding limitations have slowed the pace at which we would like to move. Government has many competing priorities and cannot do everything alone. We therefore continue to seek support from development partners and donors who are interested in strengthening access to justice and judicial efficiency.
Infrastructure is another major challenge. The Main Law Courts Building in Freetown was constructed in 1910. It was built for a much smaller population and a much smaller caseload than what exists today.
If we want to recruit more judges and magistrates, we must also create the physical infrastructure necessary for them to work effectively. Courtrooms, office space, technology, and support systems all require investment.
Judicial independence remains central to democracy and constitutional governance. In practical terms, how independent is the judiciary in Sierra Leone today?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: Judicial independence is fundamental. Section 120 of the Constitution clearly establishes that the judiciary must be independent.
Section 120(3) specifically states that the judiciary shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority. Our instructions come from the Constitution and the laws of Sierra Leone.
Since I assumed office, I have not witnessed interference in judicial decision-making. Nobody has called me to influence a case. Nobody has directed me on how a matter should be decided. I have not experienced that.
That is one reason why public confidence in the judiciary appears to have increased. People are beginning to appreciate that our decisions are based on the law, our conscience, and the evidence before us.
The Constitution also contains important safeguards. Judges enjoy security of tenure. A judge cannot simply be removed because someone is dissatisfied with a decision. Removal is only possible under clearly defined constitutional circumstances such as misconduct or incapacity.
The process of judicial appointment itself reflects independence. Recommendations come through the Judicial and Legal Service Commission before appointments proceed through the constitutional process. These safeguards help ensure that the judiciary remains independent and able to perform its constitutional responsibilities.
What have been some of your biggest challenges personally and institutionally since becoming Chief Justice?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: Institutionally, funding remains our biggest challenge.
For example, many judges use their personal vehicles in carrying out official duties because the judiciary does not have sufficient resources. We need support, but that support must come from government or development partners who have no interest in influencing judicial decisions.
Additional funding would allow us to expand court services, improve infrastructure, increase access to justice, and implement many of the reforms we have planned.
Professionally, however, I believe the judiciary possesses the expertise and capacity necessary to perform its duties. Judges and magistrates are appointed based on qualifications and experience. They are trained legal professionals who have met the requirements established by law.
Our challenge is not professional competence. Our challenge is ensuring that the institution has the resources necessary to operate at its full potential.
Court delays and case backlogs remain a concern for many citizens. How serious are these challenges?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: They are serious challenges.
The number of cases entering the justice system continues to increase while the number of judges and magistrates remains limited. Naturally, this creates pressure on the courts.
One of the reforms we are pursuing is the recruitment of additional judges and magistrates, subject of course to the availability of resources and infrastructure.
We have also strengthened monitoring and supervision. Supervisory judges monitor performance and ensure that judicial officers are actively handling matters before them.
Training programmes also play an important role. Recently, we have focused heavily on mediation and arbitration. Not every dispute must go through a lengthy trial process.
For example, if two neighbours are involved in a dispute and must continue living side by side after the case is over, mediation may offer a better solution than prolonged litigation. Through mediation, disputes can often be resolved more quickly and amicably.
Alternative dispute resolution is therefore one of the tools we are using to reduce backlogs and improve efficiency.
Sierra Leone is seeking to attract greater investment and economic growth. How important is a strong judiciary in creating investor confidence?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: The judiciary and economic development are closely connected.
There can be no meaningful economic development without a strong judiciary. There can be no investor confidence if the judiciary is weak and unable to perform its functions effectively.
When investors consider investing in a country, one of the first things they examine is the rule of law. They want to know whether the judiciary is independent. They want to know whether disputes will be resolved fairly and efficiently. They want to know whether courts can be trusted to act without external pressure.
These are important considerations for investors, development partners, and businesses.
That is why we are working to build a judiciary that meets the demands of the twenty-first century. A strong judiciary contributes directly to national development and economic growth.
Looking ahead, what kind of judiciary would you like to see in Sierra Leone over the next five to ten years, and what legacy would you like your leadership to leave behind?
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda: I want to see a judiciary that is fully functional, trusted by the public, and capable of dealing with cases within reasonable periods of time.
I want to see a judiciary that commands respect and confidence from citizens. I want to see a judiciary that continues to improve access to justice and strengthens the rule of law.
At the same time, we must be realistic. The challenges facing any institution cannot be eliminated overnight. It would not be truthful for anyone to suggest that all challenges can be solved within one year, two years, or even a single term of office.
Institutional reform is a process. What is important is that we continue moving in the right direction.
My hope is that when people look back, they will say that under my leadership we took meaningful steps to improve access to justice, strengthen public confidence, and build a judiciary that is better prepared to serve future generations of Sierra Leoneans.
We will continue to move forward, one step at a time, towards that goal
*Culled from June Edition of PAV Magazine
