Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, has called for a strong, united and credible Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), saying the country needs a powerful legal profession to help safeguard the rule of law, strengthen democratic institutions and advance justice.
He made the call on Monday, October 26, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the SLBA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Bintumani, Aberdeen, under the theme, “Safeguarding the Institution, Restoring Confidence and Delivering Constitutional Transition.”
Speaking as Attorney General, Minister of Justice and Titular Head of the Bar, Sesay said the Bar Association was more than a professional body, describing it as a critical institution in Sierra Leone’s democratic system and a custodian of the rule of law within the legal profession.
He noted that a strong, independent and well-governed Bar Association would benefit the wider legal system by promoting professional standards, strengthening public confidence in lawyers and ensuring that clients could trust legal practitioners when seeking assistance.
“A united Bar is a powerful Bar. And Sierra Leone needs a powerful Bar,” he said, emphasising the importance of restoring the Association’s governance and credibility.
Reflecting on the challenges the Association had faced, the Attorney General commended its members for coming together to chart a path forward and entrusting the Caretaker Body with a clear, time-limited mandate.
He said the decision to maintain continuity rather than allow the institution to become paralysed demonstrated maturity and institutional resilience among members of the legal profession.
Sesay also stressed that public confidence in the Bar could only be restored through concrete actions rather than statements or resolutions.
According to him, such confidence depended on free and fair elections, transparent and audited financial accounts, and leadership that respected the Association’s constitution while prioritising the interests of its members.
He commended the Solicitor-General, Osman Kanu, and other members of the Caretaker Body for what he described as the seriousness, professionalism and dignity with which they had managed the Association during the transition.
The Attorney General said the AGM and elections represented an important step towards restoring democratic governance within the Bar, noting that the process was being conducted in accordance with the Association’s constitution and pursuant to a High Court order.
He urged the incoming executive to build on that process by governing transparently, publishing financial accounts, holding AGMs on time, consulting members and resolving disputes through the Association’s constitution.
Sesay further warned against leadership that prioritised its own interests over those of the membership, maintaining that the Bar Association belonged to its members and that its leadership existed to serve them.
Beyond the Association’s internal affairs, he called on lawyers to recognise their broader responsibility to Sierra Leone at a time when the country was undergoing significant institutional and legal changes.
He said the legal profession had a role to play in shaping legislation, protecting judicial independence, improving access to legal services, safeguarding human rights and strengthening the integrity of the country’s commercial environment.
According to him, these responsibilities required a Bar Association that was engaged, credible and functioning effectively, rather than one confined to its internal affairs.
He concluded by expressing confidence in the Sierra Leone Bar Association’s ability to serve as a voice for the rule of law, a guardian of professional standards and a champion of justice, while urging the incoming leadership to make the most of the opportunity to begin a new chapter in the institution’s history.
