Deputy Minister of Justice Madam Saptieu E. Saccoh has commended Chief Justice Komba Kamanda for reforms aimed at improving access to justice and speeding up the disposal of cases across Sierra Leone.
Speaking on the theme “AI, Justice and the Rule of Law,” Madam Saccoh said the Chief Justice’s leadership had contributed to significant changes in justice delivery, particularly through the expansion of judicial services beyond Freetown.
She noted that, under Chief Justice Kamanda’s leadership, the Court of Appeal had, for the first time, held sittings in the provinces, allowing senior judges of the Superior Court of Judicature to travel from Freetown to hear appeals originating from those regions.
According to Madam Saccoh, the provincial sittings have helped bring appellate justice closer to citizens and contributed to the speedy disposal of cases.
She also reaffirmed the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to working with relevant institutions to promote the responsible adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the justice sector.
Madam Saccoh described the ongoing judicial reforms as significant interventions that have been implemented in less than two years under the leadership of Chief Justice Kamanda.
The event was held at NaTCA Tower, Southbridge, and brought together key stakeholders from the justice, communications and technology sectors, including the Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NaTCA), the Solicitor-General, Mr. Osman Kanu, and Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, who delivered the keynote address.
The post-conference mixer was jointly organised by the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Communications, Technology and Innovation, with support from UNESCO.
In his remarks, UNESCO Director for Inclusion, Policies and Digital Transformation, Mr. Guilherme Canela, said UNESCO is focused on training and supporting justice-sector professionals in the application of AI tools in courts and tribunals.
The event formed part of ongoing discussions on the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of AI in the justice sector, including its implications for access to justice and the rule of law.