Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, has received a meritorious award in recognition of his outstanding leadership within the Judiciary and at the regional level as Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council.
The inscription on the award reads: “You are being honoured for your exceptional contributions to judicial excellence, unprecedented reforms, institutional strengthening, and the advancement of the Rule of Law in Sierra Leone and West Africa.”
Delivering a lecture on the theme, “Celebrating Leadership Excellence and African Innovation,” ahead of the 2026 West Africa Heroes Award ceremony, the Honourable Chief Justice described the topic as both timely and urgent.
“Across Africa, the demand for accountable governance, democracy, and effective legal systems is growing louder,” he said, stressing that “citizens are no longer passive observers or onlookers; they are active participants who expect fairness, transparency, accountability, and, more importantly, tangible results because governance in every form affects their lives.”
According to the Honourable Chief Justice, the topic is best understood from a practical governance and judicial perspective, where law is applied in real institutional settings rather than in theoretical discussions. He noted that leadership involves respect for constitutional and legal boundaries, commitment to institutional procedures, consistency in decision-making under pressure, and accountability in the use of public authority.
He added that leadership requires the courage to reform deeply entrenched systems, the courage to embrace technology in environments where resistance is inevitable, and the courage to uphold integrity even when it is inconvenient.
The Honourable Chief Justice Kamanda used the occasion to highlight some of the unprecedented reforms undertaken during his tenure, including the first Court of Appeal sittings in the provinces and the establishment of the first Sexual Offences Model Courts in Bo and Makeni.
“We have also made significant advances in digital transformation with the establishment of an effective Virtual Court, an ultramodern library with e-library resources, and social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and a website to provide real-time information about the Judiciary and enhance transparency in the administration of justice,” he said.
He concluded by stating that the future of the African continent will not be determined solely by its natural resources, but by the strength of its institutions.
On his part, the keynote speaker from Namibia, Professor David Richard Namwandi, said he was delighted to return to Freetown after four decades, having previously studied at Fourah Bay College.
“Everything started in your country, which shaped my vision to become who I am today,” said Namibia’s eminent scholar and former Minister of Education. He explained that an institution he founded in 1994 with only one university student and one lecturer has grown into one of Namibia’s leading private universities. He is best known as the founder of the International University of Management (IUM).
Professor Namwandi said leadership is about perseverance and commitment to doing what is right even when it appears impossible.
The event climaxed with the awarding of distinguished personalities, including the Vice President of the African Development Bank Group, the Nigerian and Gambian Ambassadors to Sierra Leone, Government Ministers, academic scholars, and religious leaders.
Credit – Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications and Public Affairs Unit
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 18th May 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
