MONROVIA – The National Secretary General of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, was recently elected Vice President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), with a call to its member states to elevate their democratic credentials through adherence to the rule of law.
In a press statement issued on July 2, 2024, the LNBA affirmed its unwavering commitment to enhancing a pragmatic rule of law regime in West Africa. This commitment was validated by the overwhelming election of Cllr. Varmah as the next Vice President of WABA at the recently concluded annual General Conference of the regional body.
The election of Cllr. Varmah took place in Cotonou, Benin, during the annual conference held from June 25-27, 2024, in partnership with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
According to the press release, the objective of the conference was to adopt the amended constitution of WABA and elect members to its governing bodies. Various bar associations from the sub-region, as well as representatives from the WABA secretariat, UNOWAS, and partners from the United Nations system, participated in the event.
During the conference, bar associations and legal practitioners exchanged views on various subjects, including the role of lawyers and organizations such as WABA in ensuring a democratic and peaceful society free from tension and conflict.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants adopted the new WABA constitution and elected a new executive committee for a two-year term. This committee includes representatives from the three language groups of the sub-region: francophone, anglophone, and lusophone. Among the newly elected officials were the Secretary General of the Nigerian Bar Association, Adesina Adegbite, as WABA’s Secretary, and Cllr. Varmah as Vice President.
WABA was created in 2004 in response to human rights and rule of law challenges that undermine efforts to promote democratic consolidation, good governance, sustainable peace, and development in the region. Since its inception, WABA has mobilized bar associations and legal practitioners to play a proactive role in the development of legal systems and institutions, contributing significantly to efforts to deepen democratic governance through respect for the rule of law and human rights.
Additionally, LNBA National President Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie has returned to the country from the United States after successfully participating in the Justice and the Rule of Law Global Forum. Organized by the World Bank’s Governance Global Practice, the forum brought together over 200 partners, leaders, and practitioners from government and judiciaries, the private sector, academia, civil society, and other international development organizations working in areas of justice and the rule of law.
During the meeting in Washington D.C., Cllr. Rennie assured the World Bank of the LNBA’s continued collaboration to enhance the global rule of law.
The trips for both the LNBA President and Secretary General were sponsored by the World Bank and UNOWAS.
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