Following allegations of irregularities, violence, and a forceful election of new leadership within the Sierra Leone Bar Association, deprived presidential aspirants Mr. Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah and Ms. Wara Serry-Kamal have issued a public notice vehemently condemning the purported election results.

In their joint statement dated May 20, 2024, Marrah and Serry-Kamal stated, “We note the Public Notice dated 20th May 2024 purportedly issued in the name of the Bar Association, which claims to announce a new Board for the Association. We categorically condemn this notice and reiterate that we do not recognize the individuals announced as the duly elected Board of the Association by its paid-up members at the AGM in Kenema.”

The notice asserts that no legitimate democratic electoral process took place during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kenema, thereby disputing the legitimacy of the newly declared Board of Directors.

In response to the contested election, Marrah and Serry-Kamal have called on all members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association and media representatives to attend a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 12:00 PM at the New Brookfields Hotel. They intend to communicate their official position on the matter and outline the subsequent steps they plan to take.

This unfolding situation has created significant tension within the legal community, with concerns about the integrity of the Bar Association’s leadership election process. The outcome of the press conference is eagerly anticipated by both members of the Association and the general public.