Sierra Leone News: Chief Justice plans to digitalize the Judiciary

When it comes to recording and archiving, most government institutions filing system have little or nothing to write home about.
Quite often hard copies of official documents are shelved or stored in cabinets either in much disorganized fashion or left to perish by dust or eaten by pests.
To address such challenges in the court system, Chief Justice Abdulai Charm, during their two days judicial conference, vouched to reform the court recording system to an Information Communication Technology (ICT) if provided with financial support to enable the court operates smoothly.

He said ICT is the answer to meet the demands of the judicial system, thereby enabling the court to keep records and disseminate information smoothly. However, he explained to Awoko Newspaper that among the challenges his office face with is lack of financial support. He said government budget allocated to the Judicial is not enough to substantiate or facilitate the reformation process in the judiciary.

Justice Charm also explained that they are embarking on the process of recruiting competent and professional judicial and support staff to enable them to transform and to fulfil their mandate and obligations.  As part of the reform process, he continued, his office will strengthen their accountability and transparency within the court system, thereby consulting regularly with their partners and stakeholders.
“We will continue to collaborate with the Government in carrying out these endeavours; we will also need the continued support of our development partners to carry on with our reform journey”.

Chief Justice Charm also spoke about the inadequate personnel of legal practitioners such as Magistrates who he said would be working together with the government to recruit more magistrates. He mentioned that government is seeking support from the government of Nigeria to assist with sitting Magistrates who will help to alleviate theses challenges.