By Abdulai Fofanah
Freetown, 31st July, 2026- The Public Relations Officer of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) has tendered his resignation following the indefinite suspension of the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
In a letter dated July 31, 2026, addressed to SLBA President Tuma Adama Jabbie, Alfred Kamanda Esq. announced his decision to step down, citing what he described as “an outright show of power” by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). He said police officers prevented lawyers from accessing the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, where the AGM was scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 1.
According to Kamanda, the police claimed they were acting on “Orders from the Above,” a phrase he condemned as evidence of government interference in the internal affairs of the Association. He described the move as an abuse of power that undermines the independence of the SLBA.
In his resignation note, Kamanda extended an apology to colleagues who were left standing outside the venue for hours despite having paid their annual subscriptions and conference fees. He also confirmed that he was withdrawing from the race for re-election as PRO, thanking members for the opportunity to serve.
The indefinite suspension of the AGM, without a court order, has sparked outrage within the legal community and raised broader concerns about transparency, professional autonomy, and the role of state institutions in the affairs of civil bodies.
