A cross-section of the Council of Tribal Heads in the Western Area with Chief Justice Komba Komanda in his Chamber in Freetown
In what has been described as a historic engagement on the 20th November,2025, the leadership of the Council of Tribal Heads in the Western Area has commended the Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, for the ongoing and unprecedented reforms taking place within the Judiciary.
“My Lord the Chief Justice, thank you for granting us this opportunity on our first-ever visit to a Chief Justice of our land,” said S.O. Gbeki, Chairman of the Council of Tribal Heads in the Western Area, who also serves as the Kono Tribal Head.
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Gbeki emphasised that the visit was not only a courtesy call but also an intentional engagement with “one of their own” a son of a Kono Tribal Head who has risen to the highest judicial office in the nation. He expressed deep gratitude to the Chief Justice for acknowledging the historic significance of their engagement.
‘Thank you for the reforms and know that we are very proud of your leadership,” the Chairman Council of Tribal Heads said.
However, the Council raised concerns over what they described as a lack of recognition by some legal practitioners, citing constitutional provisions under Cap 78 which refer to them as Tribal Heads rather than Chiefs. They noted that since the promulgation of the 1991 Constitution, the Western Area, both Urban and Rural has expanded significantly, leaving several communities without adequate access to formal courts but their involvement has been able to address those community disputes or misunderstanding.
A major issue highlighted was the need to revise their official designation from “Tribal Headmen” to “Paramount Chiefs” or “Chiefs.” The Council comprising various tribes explained that certain lawyers rely on existing constitutional definitions as a basis to deny them recognition as Chiefs.
To this, the Secretary-General of the Council, Mathew Jibao Young, who also serves as the Mende Tribal Head, referenced the historical division of the country into Colony and Protectorate during British colonial rule, submitting that given the expansion and transformative development across the country, the Western Area should now be captured as a Region, an adjustment that would automatically elevate their titles to Chiefs or Paramount Chiefs.
The Secretary-General congratulated the Chief Justice on his impressive leadership. He further suggested that the name “Western Area” should be reconsidered in future constitutional amendments to better reflect the region’s status.
In his response, the Honourable Chief Justice thanked the delegation for their visit and assured them that their concerns would be communicated to the Sierra Leone Bar Association to help strengthen cooperation between lawyers and Tribal Heads. He acknowledged the invaluable role that Tribal Heads play in local governance and community cohesion across the Western Area.
The Chief Justice further noted that some of the challenges stem from constitutional interpretations and committed to engaging the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice as part of ongoing constitutional review discussions.
The Council also requested that the Judiciary organise regular trainings to keep them informed about new laws and legal developments.
The meeting concluded on a cordial and hopeful note, reinforcing shared commitment to the continued transformation of the country’s justice sector.
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Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 26th November 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
