The Sierra Leone Justice Sector Reform Strategy (2024–2030) promises much. It offers a blueprint to strengthen justice service delivery, improve case management, enhance human rights adherence, and expand access to justice for all citizens. These are lofty and noble goals, no doubt. However, as citizens of Sierra Leone, we have seen this movie before—and we know how it ends.
For those of us who have lived through a string of reform strategies, the announcement of yet another one is met not with enthusiasm, but with scepticism. We have heard the rhetoric, and we have read the reports, but what we have not seen is genuine, measurable change the impacts the lives of the ordinary court users. We have not seen justice delivered where it is most needed. We have not seen accountability extended to those who hold power. We have not seen the independence and impartiality promised in these reforms.
The new strategy sets out a broad and ambitious agenda, aiming to expand legal aid, introduce digitization of court records, modernize case management systems, and build new courts and facilities. It seeks to ensure an effective police force, a professional judiciary, and a reformed correctional service. On paper, it all sounds promising. But in reality, this strategy, like many before it, is unlikely to deliver justice to the people of Sierra Leone.
Accountability: Still Missing in Action
The central flaw in the new strategy is its failure to address a core problem in our justice system – accountability. Time and again, powerful figures have acted with impunity. Whether it is abuse of office or outright corruption, those in power often escape the consequences of their actions, and the institutions meant to hold them accountable either justify their actions or simply look the other way.
The new strategy makes no concrete proposals on how to root out corruption within the judiciary itself—a glaring omission. Public confidence in the judiciary is at an all-time low, and studies consistently show that the people of Sierra Leone do not trust the justice system to deliver impartial justice. Yet, the strategy offers no clear path to restoring this trust. Without accountability for the powerful, no amount of reform will matter. Justice cannot truly be served if only the weak are held to account.
Overambitious and Under-Resourced
Another major weakness of the strategy is its overambition. With 80 key activities, ranging from infrastructure development to capacity building, the strategy is simply too broad. The justice sector in Sierra Leone lacks the capacity to implement reforms on this scale. The human and financial resources required to meet these ambitious goals are, quite frankly, unavailable. The strategy assumes continued donor support, which may not be guaranteed. Given the ongoing budget constraints, especially for the judiciary, it is difficult to see how these reforms will be financed.
The technological and infrastructure gaps in our country are another obstacle. While the strategy includes plans for digitization and automation, Sierra Leone’s limited technological capacity—especially in rural areas—raises serious questions about whether these goals are achievable. In many parts of the country, connectivity remains a significant barrier, and without resolving these fundamental infrastructure issues, these tech-driven reforms will be dead on arrival.
Political Will: The Elephant in the Room
One of the greatest challenges facing any reform in Sierra Leone is the lack of political will. The success of this strategy depends on cooperation and coordination among various ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as the political establishment’s commitment to real change. History has shown us that inter-agency collaboration in Sierra Leone is weak, fragmented, and often riddled with political interference.
In the end, party politics often decides when, how, and who is held accountable, not the rule of law. As long as this remains the case, no reform strategy will succeed. Without genuine political will to reform the justice system—and that means holding powerful figures accountable—this strategy is little more than window dressing.
Limited Public Engagement and Participation
The strategy claims to be developed through a participatory and consultative process, but there are serious questions about how inclusive and representative this process was. Too often, consultations are limited to pro-government civil society organizations, excluding the voices of those most affected by the failures of the justice system. If this strategy is to truly embody a “people-centered” approach, it must actively engage the public, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. Yet, there is little evidence that this has been done in a meaningful way.
The Promise of Justice Remains Elusive
In conclusion, while the Justice Sector Reform Strategy (2024–2030) offers an ambitious vision for transforming justice delivery in Sierra Leone, it falls short in key areas. It fails to tackle the root causes of the justice system’s failures. Without addressing these fundamental issues, the strategy is unlikely to bring about the real change that Sierra Leone so desperately needs.
We have seen enough strategies, frameworks, and reform plans to know that launching a new document is not the same as delivering justice. The people of Sierra Leone deserve more than just rhetoric—they deserve a justice system that works for everyone, not just the powerful. It is time to move beyond these grand promises and focus on real, actionable reforms that can be implemented and felt by ordinary citizens. Until that happens, the promise of justice will remain elusive, and this strategy will be just another piece of paper.