Kenema, Sierra Leone – The recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, held on May 18th, 2024, has sparked significant controversy and condemnation from prominent legal figures.
Augustine S. Marrah, Wara Serry-Kamal, and Julian Cole have issued a joint statement denouncing the events at the AGM, citing severe breaches of democratic principles, transparency, and integrity.
“The actions and inactions of the Board of Directors at this AGM, which have led to a declaration of a purported executive that was not duly elected, are not only illegal but also deeply troubling,” stated the joint declaration.
Efforts to Ensure Electoral Integrity
Prior to the AGM, efforts were made to enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. According to the statement, these efforts included court applications to ensure greater member participation, requests for security discussions with the Sierra Leone Police, and proposed meetings with the outgoing president of the Bar Association. All these attempts were thwarted.
“Solicitors for Julian Cole, Wara Serry-Kamal, and Joy Precious Bayoh filed court applications seeking voting by proxy and early publication and verification of the voters list, among other things. The courts refused to grant these applications,” the statement noted.
Allegations of Manipulation and Unlawful Actions
The statement highlighted several troubling incidents during the AGM, including the manipulation of the voter list, unlawful agenda changes, and the imposition of a returning officer with a conflict of interest.
“It was evident from the outset that the integrity of the voter list was compromised. Members who had duly paid their dues found their names omitted from the list, an issue that was raised by some members and yet was not addressed by the directors,” said the legal representatives.
The statement further described the premature commencement of voting and the appointment of Francis Kaifala, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, as Returning Officer without proper vote or consent, as deeply problematic.
Disputed Election Results
The election process itself has come under heavy scrutiny, with allegations of a sham process dominated by selective and unfair practices.
“The purported elections presided over by Francis Ben Kaifala were conducted without recourse to any verified voter list; in a hall shut down by security personnel on the instructions of Mr. Kaifala, after security personnel had dispersed with pepper spray and/or teargas a majority of the members who were present,” the statement asserted.
Call for Justice and Accountability
In light of these events, Marrah, Serry-Kamal, and Cole have declared that the newly declared executive does not represent the will of the Bar Association’s members and vowed to pursue all legal avenues to rectify the situation.
“We shall explore all legal means to ensure that an election of directors of the Association consistent with democratic standards is held as soon as possible,” the statement declared. “We shall also explore all accountability measures against all those who were complicit in the sham electoral process.”
The legal leaders are calling on all members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association to support their efforts to reclaim the association’s integrity and democratic standards.
“Together, we can reclaim our Bar Association and its voice; uphold the standards of democracy and fairness that we all cherish,” the statement concluded.
