In an exclusive interview with Sierraeye magazine, Sierra Leone’s newly appointed Chief Justice, the Honourable Komba Kamanda, shared an inspiring vision to revitalise the judiciary, restore public confidence, and enhance access to justice for all. Sworn in by His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio in December 2024, Chief Justice Kamanda brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to judicial independence, efficiency, and fairness. His plans seek to align the judiciary with Sierra Leone’s aspirations for peace, justice, and strong institutions under Sustainable Development Goal 16.
A Journey of Dedication
Reflecting on his career, Chief Justice Kamanda highlighted his extensive tenure within the judiciary, which spans from his early days as a magistrate to his current role as the nation’s top judicial officer. “I am one of the oldest staff in the Judiciary, beginning from a magistrate to the top job,” he said proudly. “As a magistrate, I served in various parts of the country before being promoted to a High Court judge, and my good work led to my appointment as an Appeals Court judge, and based on my outstanding performance, the President deemed it fit for me to serve as the first gentleman in the Judiciary.”
His passion for law, which he described as a driving force from the outset, has been complemented by an impressive academic and professional record, including an LLM with distinction in Corporate Governance from Salford University, Manchester, and numerous certifications in advocacy, case management, and arbitration.
Restoring Confidence and Enhancing Access to Justice
Chief Justice Kamanda’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment, with the judiciary facing significant challenges, including public perceptions of leadership instability and limited access to justice. He is determined to address these head-on. “It is quite true that I am appointed in a critical moment as the Judiciary is plagued by leadership challenge,” he acknowledged. “The primary one is about restoring confidence in the Judiciary, and my immediate priorities are to increase access to justice and to ensure that accused persons enjoy the right to bail to avoid prolonged stay behind bars during trials.”
To tackle delays and prison congestion, he plans to appoint more judges and enhance bail and sentencing regulations. “More judges will be appointed to avoid delays which result in prison congestion,” he affirmed. “Besides, bail and sentencing regulations will be enhanced, bearing in mind situations in which accused persons spend several years in prison and are later not found guilty of the offence charged.”
Championing Judicial Independence
A cornerstone of Chief Justice Kamanda’s vision is safeguarding judicial independence, ensuring that the judiciary operates free from political or executive interference. “Judicial independence is my vision so that judges and magistrates can perform their functions without political interference, fear or favour,” he declared. “Under my leadership, no room will be created for any executive official to interfere with the court’s work.”
As Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, he is committed to ensuring that judicial appointments, promotions, and disciplinary actions are merit-based and transparent. “I will ensure that judges and magistrates are appointed and promoted based on qualification, experience, good track record, and commitment to work,” he stated, adding that the Commission will rigorously enforce the judiciary’s Code of Conduct to uphold ethical standards.
Modernisation and Digitisation
Chief Justice Kamanda is also a strong advocate for modernising the judiciary, with plans to fully digitise case management systems and expand e-justice initiatives. “I am committed to the digitisation and modernisation of case management so that the judiciary could be in tune with the times,” he said enthusiastically. “Currently, the judiciary operates a case management App funded by the UNDP, so that the courts’ work could be expedited, and there is a virtual court system in which witnesses outside the country can testify in proceedings.”
Recognising the inefficiencies of manual filing systems in some courts, he pledged to eradicate outdated practices. “Yes, we still have the paper system in some courts, but we would see how we can eradicate it in totality,” he promised. These efforts align with the Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2024-2030, which emphasises judicial transformation through technology.
Empowering Marginalised Communities
Improving access to justice, particularly for marginalised and remote communities, is another key priority. “I accept that there is a challenge for access to justice, particularly for those in remote communities, since the courts are not everywhere,” Chief Justice Kamanda noted. “That notwithstanding, the indigent/poor should enjoy the right to bring actions to the courts, and to realise this right, magistrate and High Courts have been established in several parts of the country.”
He also outlined plans to strengthen local courts, which play a vital role in dispute resolution for many Sierra Leoneans. “Plans are underway to strengthen the administration of local courts so that people in the least stratum of society enjoy unfettered access to justice,” he said, referencing the integration of local courts into the judiciary under the 2011 Local Courts Act.
Advancing Gender Equality and Protecting Vulnerable Groups
Chief Justice Kamanda is deeply committed to dismantling systemic barriers that hinder women and children from accessing justice. “I always project the rights of women and children within the law, and generally, the judiciary upholds the rights of women and children by dismantling barriers that hinder their access to justice,” he explained.
Highlighting a significant achievement, he added, “One such strategy is the creation of sexual offences courts and the appointment of special judges to speedily and fairly look into offences against women and children. Since I hold the view that sexual offences courts should not only exist in Freetown but be cascaded to the provinces, recently, a sexual offences court was established in Sierra Leone’s second capital, Bo.”
Tackling Delays and Ensuring Transparency
Addressing concerns about case backlogs, Chief Justice Kamanda clarified that the judiciary is managing ongoing cases efficiently despite being constrained by a limited number of judges. “We have no case backlog but ongoing cases, although we are constrained in the number of judges as we have 33 on the bench working hard to ensure that all matters are fairly and speedily heard,” he said. To expedite proceedings, he has introduced innovative measures, such as deploying judges to the provinces to deliver timely rulings and judgments.
Transparency and accountability are also high on his agenda. “We do tracking on social media platforms to assess public perception about the judiciary, and the main objective is to increase public confidence in the courts,” he revealed. “As earlier mentioned, we operate virtual courts with proceedings shown on screens so that the public can see first-hand what is going on in the courts.”
Securing Financial Independence
Recognising the judiciary’s reliance on limited resources, Chief Justice Kamanda is exploring ways to secure financial independence while maintaining neutrality. “Government is the biggest funder of the judiciary, and we are trying to have a sub-treasury which we can independently operate to keep the courts safe,” he explained. “We can also turn to Development Partners for funding, but not corporate entities or business institutions, so that we cannot compromise the cardinal judicial principle of neutrality in the dispensation of justice.”
Uniting the Judiciary and Enhancing Welfare
Chief Justice Kamanda is also focused on fostering unity and inclusivity within the judiciary to strengthen its institutional cohesion. “In order to unite the Judiciary, I have formed various committees including every Judge to make sure that we are all part of the administration and no one is left behind,” he explained. This collaborative approach ensures equitable distribution of responsibilities, as he noted, “Also, every Judge can attest to the fact now that files are distributed equitably.” To further enhance welfare and institutional dialogue, he has introduced regular judicial meetings. “Judges’ meetings are now held regularly for us all to address the issues affecting us as an institution and our welfare,” he added, underscoring his commitment to a united and motivated judiciary.
Restoring Public Confidence
To bolster public trust, Chief Justice Kamanda has taken decisive steps to address litigants’ concerns and tackle allegations of misconduct. “In order to win public confidence, I have appointed Supervising Judges to help me address the numerous complaints from litigants,” he said. “This has greatly helped me to address those complaints and instil public confidence in the Judiciary.”
Additionally, he has established robust mechanisms to combat malpractice. “Another step I took is to form two investigation committees to investigate allegations of grave malpractice and corruption, abuse of office within the Judiciary,” he revealed. “These investigations are aimed at cleaning the image of the Judiciary and restoring public confidence.”
His Legacy
Chief Justice Kamanda’s vision extends beyond immediate reforms to a lasting legacy of a fair, efficient, and independent judiciary. “I want to leave behind a judiciary that will expeditiously deal with cases, a judiciary that will continue to subject itself to the constitution and other laws of the state, a judiciary that will continue to fairly treat matters without any form of attachment,” he declared.
In a heartfelt message to the public, Chief Justice Kamanda urged Sierra Leoneans to trust in the judiciary’s ability to deliver justice. “We call on the public to continue to repose confidence in the judiciary for a peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone,” he said.
With his experience, vision, and dedication, Chief Justice Komba Kamanda is poised to lead Sierra Leone’s judiciary into a new era of excellence. As President Bio affirmed during the swearing-in ceremony, “The judiciary is crucial in all that we do,” and under Chief Justice Kamanda’s leadership, it is set to become an even stronger pillar of democracy, ensuring justice, fairness, and equality for all.