The general membership of the Sierra Leone Bar Association has endorsed a Resolution that the term limit of the President be reduced from 3 terms to 2 terms and that the term of office of the Directors be for a period of 2 years.

Section 23 of the Memorandum of Association of the Sierra Leone Bar Association provides that: “A member who has served as President for three consecutive terms shall not be eligible for re-election to the office for the next succeeding term.”

The Resolution moved by Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. contained two provisions as follows: 1) that the term of office of the President must not exceed two terms whether consecutively or otherwise; and 2) that the term of the Directors (Executive) be for a period of two years commencing on the date of the AGM in which the President of that executive is elected. “I am delighted that by this Resolution the term limit of the President has been reduced to 2 terms from 3 terms. It aligns the Sierra Leone Bar Association with many progressive organisations where the Presidency is limited to 2 terms in office.

This would enrich our internal democracy and give members the opportunity for a new President every two terms. I also welcome the definition of a term of office of the Directors for a period of two years because it has been a financial burden on the Association to organise elections every year especially when we always have challenges for members to pay subscription and conference fees. This is the best practice in professional organisations.

It will now give every new Executive the opportunity to deliver more programmes and activities to improve the welfare of our members and sustain our advocacy on governance issues” , Michaela Eddinia Swallow, President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association noted. The Resolution was passed at the Annual General Meeting of the Sierra Leone Bar Association which was held in Bo City on Thursday 10th – Friday 11th February 2022.

The AGM also re-elected unopposed the President, Michaela Eddinia Swallow (Ms) for a second term and the following Directors were also elected unopposed: Sidikie Tommy Esq. (Vice President); Alfred Paul Juwah Esq. (General Secretary); Abubakarr Sidique Kamara Esq. (Assistant General Secretary); Martina Baindu Egbenda (Ms) (Treasurer); Janisa Edwina Francess Momodu (Mrs) (Assistant Treasurer) and Michael Sallu Charles Esq. (Public Relations Officer). The two new ex-officio members are Abdul Karim Kamara Esq. (Immediate Past Vice President) and Abdul Karim Koroma Esq.(Immediate Past General Secretary).

Credit: Public Relations Unit, SLBA