Published: September 5, 2025
MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has tapped Liberian National Bar Association President Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah to chair the Law Reform Commission, tasking the seasoned lawyer with modernizing and harmonizing Liberia’s legal framework.
The appointment, announced Wednesday at the Executive Mansion, is part of a broader effort by Boakai’s administration to strengthen governance institutions.
Varmah, 54, is widely regarded as one of Liberia’s most respected legal minds. Born in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, he currently serves as acting president of the West African Bar Association and has built a reputation for expertise in law, economics, and governance reform.
He holds a master’s degree in international trade law from the University of Turin, Italy — in collaboration with UNCITRAL and the International Training Center of the ILO — as well as a law degree and a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Liberia. He has also trained with the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program.
Varmah’s career spans service with the Governance Commission, the Ministries of Justice and Labor, and as acting deputy chief prosecutor at the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Crimes Unit. He has represented Liberia at international labor conferences in Geneva and has consulted for UNDP, the World Bank, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on justice reform and governance.
Created in 2009 by executive order and later backed by legislation, the Law Reform Commission is charged with reviewing and revising Liberia’s laws to eliminate contradictions and outdated provisions. Its work covers statute drafting, codification, gender and human rights, and administration.
Boakai said he expects Varmah to lead with “integrity, loyalty, and dedication,” echoing his administration’s push for stronger institutions and accountability.
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