Story courtesy of Rural Reporters News Network https://rrnnliberia.com/
KUMGBOR TOWN – The Commissioner of Kongba District, Lawrence Sherbro, has raised an alarm over the “deplorable” condition of the Kumgbor Magisterial Court—the only judicial facility in the district. He is calling on the national government and local authorities to urgently construct a modern facility to safeguard the local justice system.
According to Commissioner Sherbro, the court currently operates out of a private building that is in a severe state of disrepair. The landlord has reportedly issued a six-month eviction notice, leaving the district’s legal operations in jeopardy. In response, the district has allocated one acre of land for a new court building, but Sherbro emphasized that financial and logistical support is needed to begin construction.
In an interview, Stipendiary Magistrate Jartu Barclay detailed the harrowing challenges faced by her office, ranging from infrastructure deficits to a complete lack of security.
”This is not a chamber; it is just like a storeroom,” Magistrate Barclay said, describing the cramped, makeshift conditions.
The challenges are compounded by the district’s geography. Kongba, which has a population of 11,508, is located in a remote area bordering the Republic of Sierra Leone. While the court handles serious matters—including simple assault, rape, and death investigations—it struggles to transfer cases to the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Bopolu City due to a total lack of mobility.
Furthermore, the safety of judicial officers is at risk. ”We are begging them [the government], especially when it comes to security. We do not have security yet; even with my colleagues, we are afraid sometimes,” Barclay added.
Madam Lydia Ballah, head of the local Civil Society Organization (CSO), joined the call for action, stating that the current situation undermines the rule of law. She noted that because Kumgbor Town is a grueling six-hour drive from the provincial capital of Bopolu City, the lack of a functional local court effectively denies justice to the people of Kongba.
While the government has previously promised to support the construction of a new facility, Magistrate Barclay and local leaders are emphasizing that with a six-month eviction clock ticking, the need for intervention is now a matter of emergency.