Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, has marked one year in office, citing wide-ranging reforms aimed at strengthening justice delivery, expanding access to courts and restoring public confidence in the judiciary.
Since taking office in December 2024, Kamanda has overseen what judicial officials describe as unprecedented changes, including the first-ever sittings of the Court of Appeal outside the capital and the establishment of specialised Sexual Offences Model Courts in Bo and Makeni.
Other milestones include the creation of a magistrate’s court in Mile 91 in Tonkolili district, the revival of High Court sittings in districts such as Pujehun and Kono after years of absence, and the launch of the country’s first electronic law library to support legal research and efficiency.
The judiciary has also expanded its human resources, appointing 13 magistrates and seven High Court judges, while promoting judges to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, in a move officials say has improved access to justice nationwide.
Kamanda has prioritised reforms aimed at reducing pre-trial detention and delays, directing courts to grant bail in misdemeanor cases under the Public Order Act and emphasising that bail should not be used as punishment. Weekly and monthly case tracking, unannounced court monitoring and capacity-building programmes for judicial staff have also been introduced.
The judiciary has intensified efforts against migrant smuggling, securing convictions that have drawn international attention under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Prison court sittings have been held across the country, with the chief justice personally visiting detention facilities to oversee proceedings.
“In just one year, we have taken deliberate steps to restore discipline, strengthen institutional integrity, and bring justice closer to the people,” Kamanda said in a statement, adding that his goal was an independent, transparent and responsive judiciary.
Judicial officials said the reforms have earned Sierra Leone recognition as one of the top-performing judiciaries globally, reflecting renewed efforts to strengthen the rule of law and ensure fair and timely justice, from the capital to remote communities.
