January 17, 2022
Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, State House Garden, 13th January 2022: Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, has today welcomed the launch of the Government White Paper On the Constitutional Review Process describing it as one that constitutes Legal Reform of the highest order.
“The Judiciary welcomes the process not just because there are provisions which would benefit the Judiciary and make it more effective, but also most welcoming is the fact that the process constitute Legal Reform of the highest order,” the Hon. Chief Justice said.
He noted that, “as a Judiciary, our duty will be as has always been; firstly, to Interpret the Constitution. In Interpreting the Constitution, we employ and engage the Statutory/ Constitutional Rules of Interpretation.”
His Lordship Justice Edwards added that the prerogative to use any of the Rules distinctively remain the Judiciary’s and that it is only time and circumstances that would tell which Rule “we adopt at any given time.”
In his historical analyses of the review process, the Chief Justice noted that the process, since its inception by the setting up of the Dr. Peter Tucker Constitutional Review Commission has undergone a chequered history. He continued to note that the recommendations from both the Ernest Bai Koroma Administration in its unpublished White Paper as well as the Justice Cowan Constitutional Review Committee were both “pertinently considered” by the Technical Committee set up by His Excellency, Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
While he lauded the current Government for continuity by brining to a seeming conclusion of the Process, he said the Constitutional Review Process has been “consciously and judiciously” applied.
“Rest assured that whatever we do would be in tandem with the principles of Freedom, Democracy and Justice” he assured Sierra Leoneans.
“While our main Vision has been to make Justice accessible, fair and expeditious for all Sierra Leoneans, no doubt our Mission which tells of what we do, remains to be to uphold the Constitution of Sierra Leone and the Rule of Law, adjudicate on all matters, Criminal and Civil in order to promote national Peace, Security and Development,” he stated.
He said upholding the Constitution is a Constitutional mandate as enshrined in 1991 Constitution, assuring that they will uphold the Constitution and the Laws of Sierra Leone as the ‘Judges’ Master.’
In his declaration of purpose, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Anthony Brewah welcomed his audience for gracing an occasion marking the start of widening the Country’s democratic space. According to him, the Constitutional Review Process was in compliance with one of recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and Article 1 of the Lome Peace Accord.
Launching the Government White Paper, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada said, “the full white paper as accepted is rational and more extensive than the 2017 white paper. We would take practice steps to implement the non-entrenched recommendations immediately.”
He said the processes leading to the compilation of the White Paper was very rational and more extensive than the previous one.
He said the review requires a fixed and predictable date for elections and inauguration, adding that Members of Parliament shall now be elected through Proportional Representation.