TRAILBLAZER JFK CONTINUES TO WOW AND SHINE!

*Trailblazer JFK Continues to Wow and Shine*‼

By Ranger

An additional accolade has been added to Sierra Leone’s most renowned personality tipped to take up after President Ernest Bai Koroma, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara otherwise known and called JFK.

It could be recalled that just recently, JFK was nominated and awarded Best Minister of the Year 2016 by none other than the famous Diaspora Focus group at an auspicious and well-attended ceremony in Freetown.

*Saturday 24th December, 2016, Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) Sierra Leone and FOMAK held a joggatainment which featured JFK and many other prominent personalities. Then on Sunday 25th December, 2016 (Christmas Day) a programme ‘Feed and Clothe the Needy’ would be staged by Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) Sierra Leone and FOMAK in collaboration with JFK. Then on Monday 26th   December, 2016, all fans, friends, supporters join the Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) Sierra Leone and FOMAK to carnival alongside JFK. All of these activities are in Makeni, one of Sierra Leone’s favorite cities.*

An astute reformer, JFK the former ACC boss who had the highest number of successful prosecutions against high flying personalities officials has in a relatively short period served as head of the Judicial system and instituted much-needed reforms in court management including the appointment and deployment of new magistrates and judges across the country and making the Judicial service attractive.
He is also credited with setting up of the Legal Aid Board which has brought justice and freedom to hundreds of accused persons who had been languishing in prisons across the country without bail, fair trial and wrongly imprisoned in most cases.

JFK is committed to ensuring that justice delivery at all levels is credible and acceptable. Together with his hard working Chief Justice, the Justice Ministry is better positioned to improve on its human resource capacity at the local courts, where 90% and more of litigations among ordinary people take place.

This advancement has seen all the country’s recognized local courts furnished with trained and qualified legal officials. In the process, 1, 400 new jobs in line with the Agenda for Prosperity goal of reducing unemployment is being created.

Alongside the above progressive legal reform developments, the Justice Ministry continues work on criminal procedure reform, rights-based bail and sentencing management and transformation of the Law Officers Department into a modern well resourced entity with sufficient qualified staff to expedite prosecution and drafting of timely opinions on government matters.   

JFK is one of the youngest individuals to hold this enviable position in recent time. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Kamara headed the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) where he succeeded in establishing a robust anti-corruption regime.

Before he left the ACC as Commissioner, JFK succeeded in lifting Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption profile from the bottom position of 134 in 2010 to 119 in 2015 in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index.

A member of the African Union Board on Anti-Corruption, he has over 25 years experience at the Bar; after graduating from Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone (USL) in 1989 with an LLB (Hons).

He worked for the Government of Sierra Leone as State Prosecutor following his call to the Bar in 1990.

The Honorable Attorney General and Minister of Justice did his post-graduate studies in Law at the Southern Methodist University, Texas. JFK has a wealth of international experience as a promoter and defender of human rights.

Following the end of the civil war in Sierra Leone, JFK was appointed Deputy Prosecutor of the Special Court Sierra Leone, which tried perpetrators for war crimes. During this period, he successfully prosecuted leaders of various factions of the civil conflict including the former President of Liberia Charles Ghankay Taylor. His contribution to international jurisprudence with regards crimes against humanity has been well documented.

An avid educationist, JFK has lectured various subjects including International Criminal Law and Corporate Business Law in Sierra Leone. JFK is passionate about expanding the boundaries of human rights’ protection and improving access to justice particularly for vulnerable groups like women and children in this country.

Following his appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he has worked closely with the Legal Aid Board - Sierra Leone to provide legal assistance to many Sierra Leoneans. Over 1,500 cases have been dealt with leading to the release of hundreds of inmates. He is presently seeking support from donor partners and civil society stakeholders to repeal and modernize certain outdated laws which undermine fundamental freedoms including freedom of expression and human rights.

*Foremost among his list of achievements are:*

· Former President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association;

· Winner of the World Bank Integrity Award 2010;

· Joint winner of the International Association of Prosecutors Award in recognition for promoting International Criminal Justice;

· Avon International Award Winner in recognition of support for Women’s Rights and; former First Vice President of the West African Bar Association.

*JFK in a public function wished President Ernest Bai Koroma, Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh, Colleagues, Government Officials, supporters, fans and admirers a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year. May God continue to guide and excel him in all his endeavors.*                                                                                   ~*Feel free to share after reading*~