Sierra Leone Bar Association presidential candidate Martina Baindu Egbenda has raised concerns over the Association’s electronic registration process for members ahead of the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), calling for clarification on its legal basis and purpose.

In a statement issued in response to a notice dated 6 July 2026 on the collection of official receipts and electronic registration of members, Egbenda said while the Association has the right to make administrative arrangements for its Annual Conference, members are entitled to seek clarification where such arrangements appear to affect matters governed by law and the Association’s governing instruments.

She drew a distinction between the Annual Conference and the Annual General Meeting, noting that while the Conference is an event organised by the Executive, the AGM is a statutory meeting regulated by the Companies Act 2009 (as amended) and the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

According to Egbenda, participation in the AGM should not be tied to conference arrangements, stressing that the AGM is a closed session for members where they receive reports on the Association’s affairs and finances, consider resolutions, hold the Executive accountable, and exercise their statutory rights.

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She questioned the introduction of an electronic registration system involving the use of “unique codes”, saying members have not been informed about how the codes are generated, the methodology behind the system, or the safeguards in place to prevent duplication or unauthorised issuance.

Egbenda argued that such issues affect the transparency, credibility, and integrity of the electoral process, particularly as the Association prepares for elections. She maintained that eligibility to participate in the AGM is determined by the Association’s governing documents, specifically Article 32 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which provides that fully paid-up members are entitled to participate and vote.

She further stated that official bank records confirming payment of subscriptions remain the primary evidence of eligibility, adding that the issuance of receipts only acknowledges payment and does not create additional requirements for participation.

The presidential candidate also argued that the Directors of the Association cannot introduce new conditions or rules affecting members’ rights through administrative notices, unless such rules are authorised by the Memorandum and Articles of Association or approved by members.

Egbenda has called on the Association’s Executive to clarify that the electronic registration exercise is only for attendance at the Annual Conference and is not a requirement for participation in the AGM or the election of officers.

She further urged the publication of a list of members eligible to participate in the AGM based on the criteria established by the Association’s governing instruments, saying such clarification is necessary to maintain confidence, transparency, and fairness in the process.