Sierra Palm Hotel, Beach Road, Lumley, Freetown, 10th October, 2025: The Judiciary of Sierra Leone through the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (JLTI), has commenced training for Thirty Eight Magistrates across the country on the new Criminal Procedure Act of 2025 as part of the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Komba Kamanda’s broader set of reforms to enhance judicial efficiency.
The two-day professional development training, according to the Chief Justice, is to keep the Magistrates abreast with the provisions in the Act and also equip them in the application of the law in Courts.
He commended the collaborative efforts of development partners, especially the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Justice Sector Coordination Office (JSCO), while highlighting the value of sustained partnerships in delivering justice reform.
“From the agenda, the topics are rich, and when I have carefully looked at the Facilitators I realized that they were carefully selected by the Judicial and Legal Training Institute,” the Chief Justice said.
Commending the Chief Justice for what he described as ‘his excellent leadership’ at the Judiciary, Supreme Court Judge, Honourable Justice Eku Robert, said “thank you my Lord Chief Justice for promoting the capacity of Judges, Magistrates and Judicial Staff through the Judicial and Legal Training Institute. He thanked colleague Judges for their support.
The Coordinator of the training, Honourable Justice Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi JSC, said the aim of the training is to enhance professionalism and to also keep them well-informed with the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024.
She thanked the UNDP and the JSCO for their support for making the training possible.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., said the new CPA introduces several new provisions that were not present in the old 1965 Act, primarily focusing on modernizing the justice system and aligning it with international human rights standards that will ensure fair judicial processes
To make the legal process swift, easy, efficient and result-yielding, the Attorney General said the new Act provides for Alternative Sentencing such as Community Punishment Order, Suspended and Deferred Sentences for an offence not exceeding two years.
He thanked the Chief Justice for the ongoing reforms. He also praised the Judicial and Legal Training Institute for their steadfastness to continuous capacity building for Benchers.
The training ended on Saturday 11th October 2025 with a certification ceremony for each participant.
For more information, contact the Judiciary Communications and Public Affairs Unit or visit our website on www.judiciary.gov.sl or follow us on all our social media platforms.
