By Alpha Conteh
Freetown, 20th October 2026- Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, scholar and flagbearer aspirant for the All Peoples Congress (APC), has called for a deeper understanding of democracy in Sierra Leone, arguing that justice, rather than law alone, is the foundation of a fair and resilient society.
Speaking on the theme, “The Soul of Democracy: Bridging Law, Justice and National Resilience,” Bangura said laws can exist under authoritarian regimes, but without justice they become little more than instruments of bureaucracy.
“Justice is what gives the law its soul. Law without justice is bureaucracy. Justice without law is chaos, but together, they are hope,” he told his audience.
Bangura maintained that justice is essential for protecting the rights of ordinary citizens, ensuring that the powerful remain accountable and providing avenues for the poor and vulnerable to seek redress. He said genuine democracy must be measured not only by elections and constitutions, but by the extent to which citizens experience dignity, fairness and equal protection under the law.
Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s history, he noted that the country continues to bear the scars of war, exploitation and injustice, warning that societies suffer when legal institutions lose public trust.
“We know what it is to lose trust in institutions meant to protect us. But we also know resilience,” he said, citing the achievements of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as examples of accountability and restorative justice.
According to Bangura, the law should not be viewed as a distant colonial inheritance but as a living instrument rooted in the everyday realities of Sierra Leoneans. He pointed to the struggles of people seeking inheritance rights, fair trials and freedom of expression as examples of where justice must be seen to work for ordinary citizens.
“The law must show up not as a shield, but as a bridge,” he stated.
The presidential hopeful also challenged conventional notions of democracy, warning that the mere existence of elections does not automatically translate into justice or good governance.
“A country can have ballots without justice, parliaments without accountability and constitutions without rights,” he said.
Bangura argued that democracy is sustained through daily respect for human dignity and due process, whether in landlord-tenant disputes, law enforcement practices or judicial proceedings.
He further cautioned that when citizens lose confidence in the justice system they become less likely to report crimes, increasingly resort to settling disputes outside legal frameworks and disengage from civic participation, creating conditions that threaten democratic stability.
Calling for collective responsibility, he urged citizens and public institutions alike to ensure that justice is accessible and meaningful to all.
“Justice must be made real, tangible and accessible. That is not just the responsibility of government; it is yours and mine. The law must protect, not only persecute,” he said.
Bangura concluded by inviting Sierra Leoneans to join the DIB Movement, which he said is dedicated to fostering unity, healing national divisions and building what he described as a stronger APC and a better Sierra Leone.
