By: Ilyasa Baa
The introduction of mass media coverage in the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone as a pilot phase by the Chief Justice Edward Babatunde Edwards has been widely accepted and described as a strategic reform under the current administration.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Elkass Sannoh, the judiciary is now open to media scrutiny not like before when there was a lot of secrecy in the dispensation of justice.
“We believe the media is serving as the transmission belt for the public to gain trust in the Judiciary”, he said, noting that the reason cameras and recorders are allowed in court is for the public to see for themselves and understand what happens in the court. He said the mass coverage and the introduction of fast track Anti-Corruption Court are some of the legacies that are worthy of emulation across the sub region.
He pointed out that the expertise of the Chief Justice has been tapped by the Solicitor General of the Gambia, Hussein Thomasi who was in Freetown to learn about how the Judiciary managed to create a specialised court to expedite corruption related matters.
He boasted that under the reign of Justice Edwards hundreds of sluggish cases were discharged after suspects had spent years in prison. He said his administration has seen women elevated more than any other government institution, arguing that the issue of women empowerment has been addressed within the Judiciary.
The Judiciary has reiterated its independence noting that they don’t take orders from above and that they provide equal opportunities devoid of political affiliation. It described the recent ruling on the Proportional Representation system of election as a land mark judgement pointing out that members of the opposition themselves have won cases brought against them before the court.