Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., has called for stronger regional judicial cooperation across West Africa, describing it as essential to advancing justice, human rights, and economic integration within the ECOWAS region.
Delivering the welcome address at the Statutory Meeting of the ECOWAS Judicial Council in Freetown, the Attorney General said the meeting was taking place at a critical moment in Sierra Leone’s legal development. “You have come at a time when Sierra Leone is undergoing a transformative legal renaissance,” he told delegates.
He highlighted major reforms under President Julius Maada Bio, including the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024, the abolition of the death penalty, progressive gender legislation, the criminalisation of child marriage, and ongoing constitutional review efforts. “Our direction is clear: to move away from justice for the few and toward justice for all,” he stated.
While noting Sierra Leone’s domestic achievements, Alpha Sesay Esq. stressed that no justice system can operate in isolation, especially in a region facing transnational crime, security threats, and political transitions.
He described the ECOWAS Judicial Council as central to safeguarding the rule of law, strengthening the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, and maintaining public confidence in regional adjudication. “Through its oversight, the people of West Africa can maintain confidence in regional adjudication as a shield against injustice and a safeguard for human rights,” he said.
The Attorney General emphasized that stronger judicial cooperation is necessary to create a predictable legal environment, encourage investment, and ensure effective cross-border enforcement of judgments. “When we strengthen judicial cooperation, we do more than advance legal theory, we build the legal infrastructure for regional prosperity,” he noted.
He urged participants to prioritise harmonisation, access, and independence, calling for closer alignment between national and regional legal systems, the use of technology to improve access to justice, and stronger protections for judicial independence. “Let us strengthen the safeguards that preserve judicial independence, ensuring that our courts remain enduring symbols of impartiality and truth,” he urged.
He concluded by reminding delegates that the decisions taken in Freetown would affect more than 400 million ECOWAS citizens, underlining the importance of the Council’s role in shaping the future of justice in West Africa.
