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The Chairman of the Guild of Newspaper Editors in Sierra Leone (GoNE), Thomas Dixon, has expressed strong admiration for the ongoing reforms within the Judiciary, spearheaded by the Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda in less than one year of his administration.
Highlighting several unprecedented reforms, Thomas Dixon said the Guild is particularly impressed with the recent launch of the Court of Appeal, a move aimed at making justice more accessible and responsive to the needs of citizens nationwide. He also referenced the recent ranking in the World Justice Rule of Law Index, which marks a historic milestone in the country’s pursuit of justice.
In addition, he applauded the Chief Justice’s commitment to ensuring the speedy completion of drug-related cases before the courts.
According to Dixon, the media has been a longstanding partner in supporting the Chief Justice’s reform efforts, an engagement that began when Honourable Chief Justice Kamanda was first appointed to the Bench as a Magistrate.
“Your work as a Magistrate was extensively reported by one of our colleagues, the late Reverend Mathew Quartey of Radio Democracy 98.1 FM,” he said. He added, “That relationship has continued, and I am hopeful it will remain strong even as you serve as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone.”
He further commended the Chief Justice for maintaining an open-door policy and ensuring accountability through regular communication on the activities of both the Judiciary and his office.
In his response, the Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda warmly welcomed the leadership of the Guild of Editors, including its Vice Chairman Abu Kaloko and Secretary-General Ishmael Kanu Esq. He emphasized the crucial role of the media in any democracy, noting that no country can progress without a strong and independent press.
He encouraged the media to continue supporting his administration and to offer constructive criticism when necessary.
“I am not opposed to criticism because I learn from every good criticism,” the Chief Justice said. He asserted that, “Your feedback will always make my work better, and I am ready to learn from everyone.”
He noted that while significant progress has been made, more work remains to be done to strengthen the Judiciary. He assured the public that his doors remain open to receive concerns and to address them without delay.
Honourable Chief Justice Kamanda explained that upon assuming office, he dedicated his administration to promoting Access to Justice through decentralization. He noted that Kono District had been without a Resident High Court Judge, but he immediately assigned one upon his appointment. He pointed out that access to justice has been expanded in remote communities through the revival of High Court sittings in provincial towns such as Pujehun, which had gone two years without a sitting.
He highlighted the challenges faced by survivors of sexual offences, especially the delays caused by having to travel to Freetown for justice. To address this, he established Sexual Offences Model Courts in Bo and Makeni. He also commissioned an ultramodern library equipped with comprehensive e-library resources.
At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Guild of Editors presented their Strategic Plan to the Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda.
