By Mohamed Kamara
The Head of Communications of the Sierra Leone Judiciary, Mr. Elkass Sannoh has told journalists at the usual Thursday press briefings, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications that the Sierra Leone Judiciary is one of the oldest in the sub-region that was established by a constitutional instrument but facing lots of setbacks.
Mr. Sannoh highlighted some of the setbacks include; inadequate magistrates and judges, dilapidated court rooms, inadequate furniture, space and electricity inconveniences, decentralization of magistrates and judges and structural set-up and human resources problems.
“143,000 Sierra Leones were subject to one judge calculatedly. Inadequate training for staff and lack of enough cars especially in the Western Urban Area,” he said, adding that by informing that the appointment of Honorable Chief Justice Edwards has brought lots of positive changes in the professional and administrative culture of the Judiciary. He said he has increased the number of magistrates from 27 to 34 and Judges from 26 to 43 to serve in all districts of Sierra Leone. He went on to say that the judicial structures were erected especially in the provinces. He has supported the introduction of more additional courts such as the Anti-Corruption court, Fast Track Courts principally dealing with labour issues, adding that the Chief Justice has also separated Magistrates Courts from the High Courts. Mr. Sannoh further that the Chief Justice has also prohibited street trading around the courts. He said although many training facilities are needed, the judiciary is still facing lots of challenges with space problems, the provision of salary for 120 volunteer staff. He said only 15.8 billion leones was granted as subvention out of 41 billion leones requested, adding that 34 magistrates and 19 judges have no official vehicles.
