Continuing his series of nationwide launching and commissioning of newly constructed and rehabilitated infrastructure, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah officially opened the new Kenema dual purpose High Court building, which many have described as an architectural first class job on Friday 30th April 2004
The erection of the court is part of the British-assisted Law Development Project for Sierra Leone that began in January 2001.

Addressing a large crowd of residents of Kenema Town who turned out to witness the event, President Kabbah observed that Sierra Leoneans "lost the benefit of the rule of law while the civil conflict raged, but was delighted to note that the new building "represents the re-introduction of the rule of law in Kenema and surrounding areas".

He thus took the opportunity to warn those lawless individuals who usually threaten and assault other people with impunity, saying now that the courthouse facility had been re-established, such offenders should begin to "think twice".

President Kabbah also recalled his earlier reopening of the Law Courts in Freetown in 2002, during which he had promised to reconstruct all public buildings destroyed one by one. "So far I believe we have done well in that regard," he noted and thanked the British government on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone for its numerous invaluable support channelled through the British Department For International Development (DFID).

Earlier in his remarks, High Commissioner of the UK to Sierra Leone Dr. John Mitchiner said the past three years had seen many changes for the better with the re-establishment of High Court sessions in all provincial capitals as well as the extension of magistrate court sessions throughout Sierra Leone.

Acknowledging the significant inputs of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the process, the envoy made reference to other smaller projects in the ongoing Law Development Project, including assistance to the office of the legal draftsman, the Law Officers Department and committees working on customary law development and laws relating to women and children. "Her Majesty's Government is committed to help build a safe, secure and just Sierra Leone," Mitchiner also assured his audience.

While performing the ceremonial cutting of the tape, which followed his unveiling of a plaque erected at the main entrance of the building, the President said he was extremely happy to declare what he referred to as the "beautiful temple of justice" open. "I hope those who come in search of justice here will get it," he added as he, along with Vice President Berewa, Attorney General Eke Halloway, senior government officials and other regional dignitaries, proceeded on an inspection tour of the building led by Mr. Rowland Wright who chaired the occasion.

The court's interior features include the main High Courtroom with a seating capacity of over two hundred persons, a separate magistrate courtroom, a block of cells and a number of furnished offices.

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