AYV News, August 5, 2026
“I think we are at a point where we need to accept that it is rotten, that we need to go back to the drawing board, agree on the repercussions and consequences of all that has happened, and determine how we move forward”.
These were the words of a celebrated lawyer and governance specialist, Ibrahim Yusuf Bangura, callingfor urgent reforms within the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), describing the Association’s current state as deeply troubling and urging members to confront the challenges facing the legal profession.
Speaking exclusively to AYV on Monday, August 3, 2026, Bangura said the Bar Association had reached a critical point where its members must acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and work collectively to rebuild the institution.
Bangura argued that professional standards within the Association have deteriorated significantly, raising concerns about integrity and accountability.
“I think standards have fallen to rock bottom. I think we have an integrity crisis within certain ambits of the Bar Association, and I think that is a conversation we have to be willing to have,” he stated.
The governance specialist also referred to events in Kenema, suggesting they represented a defining moment in the challenges now confronting the Association.
“There is a refusal to accept that Kenema, even if not the start of our problems, was the climax of what is happening today,” Bangura said.
His comments come against the backdrop of recent controversies within the Sierra Leone Bar Association, including the postponement of its Annual General Meeting and elections, and ongoing debate over the governance and future direction of the legal body.
Bangura emphasised the need for frank dialogue, institutional accountability and collective action to restore confidence in the Association and uphold the standards expected of the legal profession in Sierra Leone.
