The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has signed a low value grant agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in the tone of US$120,159.77, to provide sustained pro bono legal aid services to address the issue of prolonged pre-trial detention.
Making the disclosure Friday, September 27, 2024, the Project Manager of LNBA, Cllr. Frederick L.M. Gbemie, in Liberia, pre-trial detention is unfairly managed and notoriously lengthy, with an estimated 71.2% of detainees subjected to extended or prolonged pre-trial detention, and even when cases go to trial, only a small number of cases are tried each year, thus undermining equitable access to justice. He described the situation as a systemic weakness in the justice system, which clearly undermines access to justice and due process.
Cllr. Gbemie disclosed that the implementation period for the project is one year, July 15, 2024—July 14, 2025. “As you may know, the LNBA currently runs self-supported legal aid clinic in few counties in Liberia. Predicated upon the experience of running legal aid clinic, and the successful execution of the 2023 Electoral Support Project, this project was awarded,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the overall purpose of this grant is to reduce the number of pretrial detainees in Montserrado County and improve access to justice for all Liberians. “The goal of this project is to sensitize, encourage and promote legal protection for the vulnerable and indigent citizens through the provision of pro bono legal aid services for the most egregious cases by members of the LNBA as an alternate condition for renewal of practicing licenses,” he added.
By this intervention, he said, the LNBA seeks to sensitize and encourage members of the LNBA to provide pro bono legal aid as one of the alternate conditions for the renewal of practicing licenses; provide legal aid services for the most egregious cases to reduce docket overcrowding and pre-trial detention in Montserrado County, and educate citizens on how to access the LNBA pro bono legal aid services and encourage indigents to take advantage of the opportunity to access to justice.
According to him, in order to successfully make the intervention, the LNBA is taking several measures, including holding one-day LNBA stakeholders clarity and brainstorming meeting through the launch of the project; holding a one-day LNBA legal aid national symposium; producing and publicizing pro bono/free legal aid service awareness materials, such as drama, jingoes and stickers for pro bono legal aid service awareness; and provide legal aid service for egregious cases and pre-trial detainees.
It can be recalled that the President of the LNBA, Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie, disclosed recently that the LNBA has reopened its Legal Aid Clinic in Montserrado County as part of efforts to ensure speedy dispensation of justice in the country.
Cllr. Rennie observed that the LNBA intends to release at least 200 pre-trial detainees before the end of the one year period of the project and, if successful, the project will be extended to other parts of the country.
