By: Miracle Seer
Presidential candidate for the Sierra Leone Bar Association, Madam Martina Baindu Egbenda, has unveiled an ambitious five-point manifesto anchored on the theme “A United Bar.” Her vision presents a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the legal profession, enhance members’ welfare, safeguard constitutional governance, and modernise the Bar Association.
Speaking to members of the legal profession, she described the Sierra Leone Bar Association as an institution standing at a defining moment in its history. She noted that while the legal profession continues to grow and evolve, the Bar must equally adapt to meet the changing expectations of its members and the demands of the justice sector.
“My vision is simple,” she declared. “A united, professional, accountable and modern Bar Association that serves its members with excellence while remaining a respected voice on matters of justice and national importance.”
Agenda One: Unity, Trust and Transparency — The first pillar of Madam Egbenda’s manifesto focuses on rebuilding unity within the legal profession. She believes the Bar can only command respect nationally when it is united internally.
She pledged to restore trust among members by promoting inclusive leadership, regular consultations, transparency in decision-making, and accountability in the management of the Association’s affairs. Her administration would publish periodic reports on the Bar’s finances, activities and decisions while ensuring that members from every region, level of practice and professional background have meaningful opportunities to participate in committees and leadership structures.
According to her, strengthening ethical leadership and open governance will restore confidence in the Association and reinforce its credibility.
Agenda Two: Protecting Democracy — Recognising the need for institutional reforms, she has committed to reviewing the Bar’s Memorandum and Articles of Association to address concerns surrounding membership rights, electoral procedures and administrative processes.
She proposes establishing a broad-based reform committee comprising senior lawyers, young practitioners, women lawyers and representatives from every region. The committee would undertake extensive consultations and recommend reforms that strengthen democratic governance within the Association.
Her administration also intends to develop a clear, transparent and predictable electoral framework, ensuring that eligibility requirements, nomination procedures, election timelines and voting processes are well defined and consistently applied.
Agenda Three: Advancing Members’ Welfare — Describing welfare as the foundation of a strong legal profession, Madam Egbenda has prioritised initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing and professional support available to members.
Her manifesto proposes modernising and professionalising the Bar Secretariat through digital membership records, online payment systems and improved administrative services.
She also plans to establish a Bar Welfare Fund to assist members facing hardship, explore group health insurance and other welfare benefits, and introduce structured mentorship programmes linking senior and junior practitioners.
In addition, her administration would provide support during illness, bereavement and emergencies, address workplace harassment and discrimination, establish service points in regional capitals, and promote international exchange opportunities with foreign law firms and professional organisations.
Agenda Four: Defending the Rule of Law — Madam Egbenda reaffirmed her commitment to protecting judicial independence and preserving the independence of the legal profession, describing both as fundamental pillars of democracy.
She has pledged that her administration will speak boldly and consistently on matters affecting constitutional governance and the rule of law. Her plans include establishing a dedicated Rule of Law and Human Rights Committee to monitor developments, document violations and coordinate appreciation response.
She also intends to defend lawyers facing intimidation while carrying out their professional duties, expand legal literacy programmes nationwide, improve access to justice for vulnerable communities, strengthen constructive engagement with state institutions without compromising the Bar’s independence, and deploy trained legal observers during local and national elections.
Agenda Five: Reforming Legal Education — Madam Egbenda’s final agenda centres on strengthening legal education and professional development. She believes that the quality of legal education directly influences the quality of justice delivered within society. Her administration therefore plans to expand continuing legal education programmes, promote practical legal skills, encourage specialisation in emerging fields of law and strengthen collaboration with universities and legal training institutions.
The manifesto also outlines plans to promote legal research, writing and publication, enhance advocacy and professional ethics training, facilitate international partnerships with regional and global bar associations, and advocate for increased government investment in legal education.
She further pledged to expand scholarship opportunities for young lawyers and establish structured mentorship programmes that connect emerging practitioners with experienced members of the profession.
Madam Martina Baindu Egbenda says her campaign is rooted in service and presents her five-point agenda as a commitment to strengthening the Sierra Leone Bar Association through professionalism, accountability, inclusion, and excellence. She calls on members to unite behind the vision of “Together, We Are Stronger” to build a more united, stronger, and future-ready Bar that serves both its members and the nation.
