By Hassan Osman Kargbo
In a bid to expand access to justice across Sierra Leone, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach communities, the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Komba Kamanda, has secured six motorcycles from the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Wang Qing.
The official handing-over ceremony took place at the Law Courts Building on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown. The donation marks another step in the ongoing cooperation between the Judiciary of Sierra Leone and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Wang Qing congratulated Chief Justice Kamanda on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Judicial Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He commended the Chief Justice’s commitment to judicial reforms and his continued efforts to enhance access to justice across the country.
“I hope this donation will support capacity building within the Judiciary and be used effectively to improve access to justice in rural and underserved areas,” said Ambassador Wang.
He highlighted that the donation was the outcome of several productive meetings with the Chief Justice focused on strengthening the Judiciary’s operational capacity and expanding its reach.
The Ambassador also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Judiciary in its broader developmental agenda, noting that China values its bilateral partnership with Sierra Leone and stands ready to support national institutions in their efforts to improve service delivery.
In his response, Chief Justice Kamanda expressed sincere appreciation to the Ambassador and the People’s Republic of China for their continued partnership and generous support.
“These motorcycles will be deployed to the Bailiffs Department to ensure faster and more efficient service of legal documents, especially in areas where road access is limited,” Chief Justice Kamanda stated. “This is part of our larger strategy to expand the Judiciary’s presence and operational efficiency in every corner of Sierra Leone.”
He emphasized that under his leadership, the Judiciary has achieved significant milestones in decentralization, noting the recent establishment of Magistrates’ Courts in locations where previously there had been none.
“Access to justice is one of the key reform priorities of my administration. These motorcycles will help expedite the judicial process in remote areas and strengthen the presence of the rule of law across the country,” he added.
Recounting the efforts that led to the donation, Chief Justice Kamanda said several meetings had been held with Ambassador Wang Qing, during which various support needs were discussed, including transportation for judicial staff and infrastructure support.
Upon receiving the documents and keys for the six motorcycles, the Chief Justice reiterated his belief that the strong and enduring bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and China will continue to yield benefits for both countries, particularly in the realm of institutional development.
The donation is seen as part of broader judicial reforms aimed at building a more accessible, efficient, and responsive justice system for all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of location.
As the Judiciary continues to grow under the leadership of Chief Justice Kamanda, such partnerships are proving instrumental in bridging service gaps and empowering court officials to serve even the most isolated communities.
