By Janet A. Sesay
The Government of Sierra Leone through the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on Thursday, 12th September instant, launched the Government of Sierra Leone Justice Sector Reform Strategy which aims at enhancing service delivery in the justice sector.
In his overview statement on the Justice Sector Reform Strategy at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawally said the overall goal of the strategy is to have a strengthened service delivery in the justice sector such as to guarantee fairness, impartiality and ensure effective justice for all in Sierra Leone.
The learned Minister furthered that to meet this goal, the strategy identified four specific objectives and outcomes and an additional eighteen key policy areas and eighty key activities being put in place.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Tarawally maintained that his office is proud to have translated President Bio’s vision into an actionable and implementable strategy that will deliver justice for the people of the country.
Giving his keynote address and launching the strategy, President Julius Maada Bio stated that advancing the rule of law and promoting justice and human rights strongly resonates with his government’s development aspirations. He noted that these aspirations underscore that justice and accountability are indispensable to the growth the nation. He maintained that investment in the justice sector is also directly tied to the governance and human development aspirations of his government.
The President furthered that his government believes that citizens should be treated fairly and equally in criminal and civil proceedings and should narrow the gaps between the rich and poor by providing assistance to those who cannot afford the cost of formal legal processes.
A representative from civil society, Ibrahim Tommy, who also doubles as the Executive Director of the Center for Accountability and the Rule of Law (CARL), noted that the strategy is a unique document that needs effective implementation. He commended the President for his commitment to deliver justice to the people, highlighting the establishment of the courts in the provinces among others as a glaring example, and went on to observe that there is a need for increased investment in the justice sector in order to impact on citizens across the country.