Waterloo, Western Area Rural District, 21 January 2026: Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, has turned the sod for the construction of one High Court and three Magistrates’ Courts in Waterloo.
Waterloo is located approximately twenty miles east of Freetown and has a growing population of 314,382, according to the 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census of Sierra Leone, with an estimated land area of 163.1 square kilometres.
Addressing stakeholders at the ceremony, the Chief Justice described the occasion as a historic milestone in the administration of justice in Sierra Leone. He said the event marked the fulfilment of a long-cherished vision aligned with his agenda of enhancing access to justice.
“We cannot talk about justice without the requisite infrastructure,” he said, noting that despite longstanding infrastructural challenges, the Government is now demonstrating clear commitment by rehabilitating and constructing court buildings across the country.
He expressed appreciation to His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, for his unwavering support to the justice sector.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for your commitment to strengthening the administration of justice,” the Chief Justice said.
Chief Justice Kamanda urged the contractor to adhere strictly to the one-year completion timeline, stressing that the rapid population growth in Waterloo and its environs has created an urgent need for a modern court complex. He noted that the new courts would help ease the pressure on the main Law Courts at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
The Chief Justice further assured stakeholders of the Judiciary’s commitment to providing the necessary support to ensure the timely completion of the project, with the goal of officially commissioning the court edifice within the year.
He also appealed to the Sierra Leone Police to provide adequate security for the contractor and engineers, to safeguard the project against theft and other security gaps.
Reflecting on history, the Chief Justice recalled that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had attributed the decade-long civil war, in part, to the lack of justice across sectors of society. He emphasized that justice is fundamental to peace, stating that there can be no justice without peace.
In his remarks, the Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Denis Sandy, described the sod-turning ceremony as further evidence of the Government’s commitment to promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice.
He said President Bio’s support for the development of the justice sector remain unmatched.
Representing the Local Unit Commander, Superintendent of Police A.B. Mansaray expressed delight at attending the ceremony, noting that the police would be among the key beneficiaries of the project upon its completion.
Explaining the responsibilities of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services, the Deputy Director General, Madam Susan Baby Koker, stated that a key responsibility of the institution is to securely receive, keep, and manage persons lawfully committed to correctional centres, including remand prisoners and convicted offenders. She added that the Service also places strong emphasis on the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society after the completion of their sentences.
She further expressed appreciation that the construction of the Waterloo High Court and Magistrates’ Courts has become a reality.
Various speakers, including the Chief Administrator of the Waterloo Local Council, pledged their commitment to monitoring and supporting the construction process to ensure its successful completion.
For further information, please contact the Judiciary Communications and Public Affairs Unit, visit www.judiciary.gov.sl, or follow the Judiciary on all social media platforms.
