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Photo: Members of the LNBA Executive, UNDP Resident Representative and OHCHR in a group photo on Day 2 of the Bar’s Retreat.
Buchanan, Grand Bassa Co. – Day two of the Liberia National Bar Association’s (LNBA) Executive Retreat in Buchanan brought renewed commitment to justice sector reform as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Liberia, Mr. Aliou Mamadou Dia, delivered a powerful address urging the legal profession to champion fairness, access, and accountability in Liberia’s judicial system.
The retreat, which runs from August 20 to 23, 2025, brings together Bar leaders and members to deliberate on key policy frameworks aimed at ushering in a new era of professionalism and accountability in Liberia’s justice system. Sponsored by UNDP and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the gathering highlights the central role of the Bar in strengthening democratic governance.
Photo: Mr. Aliou Mamadou Dia, UNDP Resident Representative to Liberia Speaking during the Retreat in Buchanan, Grand Bassa
Speaking to legal practitioners, Mr. Dia described Liberia as “a country at a crossroads,” emphasizing the nation’s progress since the end of conflict—including a functioning judiciary and peaceful transition of power—while underscoring the gaps in access to justice, particularly for the poor and marginalized.
“Justice must work for the marginalized,” Mr. Dia stressed. “Too many communities—whether in West Point, Lofa, or rural slums—still see justice as distant, slow, costly, and intimidating. The Bar must lead a national conversation on access to justice, not just for those who can pay, but for those who cannot.”
He urged the LNBA to expand legal aid clinics across all counties, strengthen community-based paralegal programs, simplify court procedures, and advocate for a Legal Aid Act that institutionalizes access to justice for all Liberians.
UNDP’s Resident Representative also called on the Bar to modernize legal education, diversify the profession, and prioritize civic education as a means of deepening democratic culture. “The legal profession must not only defend tradition but deliver change,” he added, noting that lawyers have a constitutional duty to serve the nation beyond the government of the day.
Through its Rule of Law programme, UNDP has already partnered with the judiciary and the LNBA to expand legal services, reduce case backlogs, and strengthen land dispute resolution mechanisms. According to Mr. Dia, these interventions have empowered thousands of citizens, promoted equity, and reduced social tensions.
Highlighting examples from across Africa—including Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa—Mr. Dia encouraged the LNBA to draw inspiration from regional peers where Bar Associations have tackled judicial corruption, promoted civic education, and established vibrant legal aid clinics.
“The Liberia National Bar Association is not just a club of lawyers it is a national conscience for justice and governance,” Mr. Dia affirmed. “By strengthening the Bar, we strengthen Liberia itself.”
The LNBA Executive Retreat continues with a focus on reform strategies to align legal practice with the realities of ordinary Liberians, while deepening partnerships with international partners such as UNDP and OHCHR.
