By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio officiated the swearing-in of Mrs. Tuma Adama Gento Kamara as a member of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission during a solemn ceremony at State House, attended by senior government officials and prominent figures from the legal community, the event underscored Sierra Leone’s commitment to a robust judicial framework.
Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, Secretary to the President, outlined the constitutional basis for the appointment, citing Section 140(1)(d) of the 1991 Constitution, which mandates the Sierra Leone Bar Association to nominate a practicing lawyer with at least ten years of experience for the commission, he noted that, under Section 140(4), Mrs. Gento Kamara was required to take the oath of office before the President to commence her duties.
Following the oath, Mrs. Gento Kamara expressed profound gratitude for the appointment and embraced its weighty responsibilities, Justice is not just a system of laws and institutions, it’s a living force that demands integrity, she declared, I see this role not as a title but as a sacred duty to uphold fairness and truth.
She vowed to ensure merit-based judicial appointments, transparent legal processes, and equitable access to justice for all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of their circumstances.
In his address, President Bio congratulated Mrs. Gento Kamara and emphasized the judiciary’s pivotal role in sustaining democracy and social order, a fair court system is the bedrock of our society, he said, It ensures citizens can seek redress with confidence, a cornerstone of our democratic values.
He challenged her to match her words with actions, urging the broader judiciary to deliver justice promptly and impartially, Justice delayed is justice denied, he cautioned, I trust you will honor your pledge, and I call on all judicial officers to uphold these standards.
Mrs. Gento Kamara steps into the role previously held by Madam Michaela B.E. Swallow, who now serves as Deputy Permanent Representative for Legal Affairs at Sierra Leone’s permanent mission to the United Nations, with her extensive legal expertise and dedication to the rule of law, Mrs. Gento Kamara is poised to invigorate the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, reinforcing its mission to strengthen governance and justice in Sierra Leone.