Chief Justice Komba Kamanda
By Mahmud Tim Kargbo
A young and battle-tested Chief Justice stands at the crossroads of history, tasked with reviving a judiciary tainted by decades of corruption, impunity, and public distrust. Can Honourable Komba Kamanda rebuild the moral and institutional backbone of Sierra Leone’s justice system?
Sierra Leone’s judiciary faces one of the most formidable tests in its democratic history. Deep-seated corruption, political interference, and internal sabotage have steadily eroded public confidence in the courts. In this in-depth analysis, I examine the formidable challenges confronting Chief Justice Komba Kamanda and outline bold, practical measures aimed at restoring credibility, independence, and integrity to the justice system.
If You Were Chief Justice
How can one lead a judiciary where some lawyers prefer to collude with corrupt senior judges and magistrates instead of practising law honourably in court? How can justice thrive in a system where influence, not evidence, determines outcomes?
If you were tasked with leading Sierra Leone’s judiciary at this most delicate juncture, how would you begin? Imagine being a young but seasoned judge, summoned to restore integrity in an institution long marred by manipulation and decay. How would you confront a judiciary where some of its own officers see themselves not as servants of the law but as the law itself?
This is the monumental challenge now resting on the shoulders of Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, a jurist both young and battle-tested, entrusted with the task of reforming a system bruised and stained for far too long.
The Weight of a Damaged Institution
Sierra Leone’s judiciary bears deep scars of moral compromise. Successive reports from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) warned that impunity and political manipulation within the justice system were among the root causes of Sierra Leone’s civil war. The TRC observed that “the failure of state institutions, particularly the judiciary, to protect citizens’ rights and ensure accountability, destroyed public confidence and gave rise to lawlessness” (http://www.sierraleonetrc.org).
Yet, over two decades after the war, this critical arm of government still wrestles with corruption, political pressure, case backlogs, and growing public distrust. According to Afrobarometer (2022), more than 63% of Sierra Leoneans believe that “most” or “all” judges and magistrates are corrupt (http://www.afrobarometer.org). In many courts, justice is still delayed not by the complexity of law, but by the thickness of a bribe.
The Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has repeatedly flagged severe administrative and financial irregularities in the management of court funds, unpaid fines, and budget misuse (http://www.auditservice.gov.sl). These lapses have hollowed out institutional credibility and damaged the rule of law.
The Old Guards and the Resistance to Reform
The new Chief Justice must not underestimate the resistance of those who have long thrived in chaos. Within the judiciary exist senior judges, magistrates, and legal practitioners who have mastered the art of judicial manipulation, from fixing judgments to obstructing disciplinary inquiries. These individuals view every reform-minded Chief Justice as a threat to their personal economy.
Hon. Komba Kamanda must therefore recognise that his toughest battle may not come from the Executive or Parliament, but from internal sabotage. These are men and women who may wear robes of respectability but secretly worship the god of impunity.
Very senior judges and magistrates who resort to using journalists or bloggers to malign the judiciary when subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings should face firm and proportionate sanctions. Such conduct is a calculated attempt to undermine the integrity of the institution and to bring the judiciary into disrepute.
Restoring Faith Through Systemic Change
Reform must begin with the re-engineering of internal accountability mechanisms. The Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC), constitutionally empowered under Section 140 of the 1991 Constitution to appoint, discipline, and assess judicial officers, must be revitalised to operate transparently and independently (http://www.sierraleoneconstitution.com).
The Chief Justice could institute an independent vetting and integrity review of all magistrates and judges, similar to Kenya’s post-2010 judicial reforms. Kenya’s Judicial Service Commission conducted lifestyle audits and removed several judges for unethical conduct, helping to restore public confidence (http://www.judiciary.go.ke). Sierra Leone can adapt this model within its constitutional limits.
To address the chronic backlog of cases, judicial digitalisation must become a national priority. Electronic filing, virtual hearings, and a public case-tracking portal would enhance transparency and efficiency. Nigeria’s Lagos State Judiciary offers a proven example: its digital reforms have significantly reduced corruption opportunities and improved access to justice (http://www.lagosjudiciary.gov.ng).
Shielding the Judiciary from Political Pressure
No judiciary can function credibly if its leadership is beholden to the Executive. Chief Justice Kamanda must therefore institutionalise independence through administrative and financial autonomy. The Judiciary Act of 2022, when fully implemented, offers a pathway for the judiciary to manage its own budget, reducing overreliance on the Ministry of Finance. Fiscal independence, paired with transparent public reporting, would strengthen the courts’ legitimacy.
The Chief Justice must also lead by moral example, resisting political manipulation and ensuring that neither friends nor foes are shielded from the reach of justice. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.
Rebuilding Public Confidence
Today, many Sierra Leoneans view the courts not as sanctuaries of justice but as marketplaces of influence. Reversing this perception requires visible action. Regular press briefings, open judgments, and civil society engagement can help restore transparency. Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, has made such outreach a defining feature of her leadership, making judicial accountability part of the national civic conversation (http://www.judicial.gov.gh).
Sierra Leone could establish Judicial Integrity Forums, public platforms where citizens and the judiciary engage on ethics and performance. This approach would mirror the TRC’s call for “a participatory culture of justice”, where citizens see themselves as stakeholders in the rule of law (http://www.sierraleonetrc.org).
The Moral Burden of Leadership
Perhaps the hardest fight for any Chief Justice in Sierra Leone is against public cynicism. The TRC warned that “when justice becomes a commodity, society’s moral foundations begin to collapse.” That is the moral burden now placed upon Chief Justice Kamanda: to restore the judiciary as the conscience of the nation, not its accomplice.
Success will require institutional courage, quiet diplomacy, and an unyielding moral compass, holding firm against corruption while inspiring those honest judges and magistrates who still believe in the sanctity of their oath.
The Road Ahead
Honourable Komba Kamanda’s appointment marks a defining moment. If he can cleanse the judiciary of entrenched corruption, enforce internal discipline, digitalise court processes, and rebuild public trust, he will not only redeem the institution but redefine justice in Sierra Leone for generations.
Reform will not be swift or simple. It will demand patience, wisdom, and moral conviction, the courage to do what is right when others prefer what is convenient.
As the TRC reminded Sierra Leone two decades ago, “justice is the first condition of peace.” The new Chief Justice must now make that truth the living heartbeat of a nation yearning for fairness, integrity, and hope.
A Call to Action: A Collective Duty to Uphold Justice
The task of rebuilding Sierra Leone’s judiciary cannot rest on the shoulders of one man alone. It requires a united front. The Executive must respect the separation of powers and refrain from undue interference.
Parliament must ensure adequate budgetary allocation and effective oversight. The Sierra Leone Bar Association must recommit itself to professional ethics, while civil society and the media must champion responsible scrutiny rather than sensationalism.
The nation stands at a judicial crossroads. If every stakeholder, from the judge’s bench to the citizen’s street, accepts their moral and civic duty to protect the sanctity of justice, Sierra Leone’s courts can once again become beacons of integrity. The Chief Justice may light the torch, but it is the collective will of the people that must keep it burning.
