By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – July 1, 2025: In a proactive move to improve access to justice and address overcrowding in correctional facilities, the Honourable Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Justice Komba Kamanda, has commenced a nationwide Prisons Court Monitoring initiative. The five-day judicial tour, which began on Tuesday, 1st July 2025, and runs through Saturday, 5th July, is part of efforts to fast-track case reviews and ensure that the rights of inmates are upheld across the country.
Under this initiative, six Judges have been dispatched to key judicial jurisdictions including Bo, Kenema, Moyamba, Mattru Jong, Magburaka, Kabala, Makeni, Kambia, Port Loko, and Freetown. These Judges will conduct in-prison court sittings aimed at: Reviewing cases with prolonged adjournments; reassessing bail conditions; and evaluating the legal status of inmates who are elderly, mentally, or physically challenged.
The objective is to expedite hearings, promote legal equity, and relieve pressure on Sierra Leone’s overstretched correctional facilities.
“This exercise is part of our continuing commitment to take justice to the people—especially the most vulnerable behind bars,” stated Chief Justice Kamanda. “By bringing Judges into the correctional centres, we wouldn’t only decongest our prisons but also uphold the fundamental rights of every accused person to a fair and timely trial.”
He acknowledged the vital support of development partners, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in facilitating this judicial milestone.
The initiative aligns with the Judiciary’s broader Strategic Plan to ensure equitable justice delivery and modernize legal procedures. It also serves as a precedent-setting model for other justice systems in the region, where correctional overcrowding and delayed trials remain persistent challenges.
With this high-level engagement, the Judiciary of Sierra Leone is reaffirming its pledge to leave no one behind in the quest for fairness, dignity, and due process.
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