The National Secretary General of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, has been elected as Vice President of the West African Bar Association (WABA). He was elected at the just ended Annual General Conference of the regional body.
An LNBA press release says its unwavering and unequivocal stance on enhancing a pragmatic rule of law regime in West Africa has been validated and acknowledged by the recent overwhelming election of its National Secretary General. LNBA calls on ECOWAS member states to elevate their democratic credentials through adherence to the rule of law.
The election of Cllr. Varmah took place in the Republic of Benin in partnership with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNCWAS).
The objective of the conference was to adopt the amended constitution of WABA and elect officers.
LNBA says various Bar Associations in the sub-region, as well as the WABA Secretariat, UNOWAS and partners from the United Nations system, took part in the conference.
According to the release, during the conference, Bar Associations and legal practitioners exchanged views on a variety of subjects, including the role of the lawyers and of an organization such as WABA in ensuring a democratic and peaceful society free from tension and conflict.
At the end of the proceedings, participants adopted the new WABA Constitution and elected for a two-year term, an executive committee members drawn from Francophone, Anglophone and Lusophone countries.
The Malian Bar President, OUsmane Bouba Iraore was elected as President, the National Secretary General of the LNBA, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah as Vice President and the Secretary General of the Nigerian Bar Association,
Adesina Adegbite as WABA’s Secretary General among others.
WABA brings together members of Bar Councils and lawyers in the sub-region. The organization 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.
Since its inception, the Association’s primary role has been to mobilize Bar Associations and legal practitioners to play a proactive role in the development of legal systems and institutions in the region and to contribute significantly to efforts to deepen democratic governance through respect for the rule of law and human rights.
At the same time, the LNBA National President, Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie has returned to the country from the United States of America, after successfully participating in the Justice and the Rule of Law Global Forum organized by the World Bank’s Governance Global practice which brought together over 200 partners.
Leaders and practitioners from government and judiciaries, the private sector, academic, civil society and other international development organizations working in areas of justice and rule of law attended the meeting in Washington DC,.
Cllr. Rennie assured the World Bank of the LNBA’s continuous collaboration with the Bank to enhance the global rule of law.
Meanwhile, the LNBA says that the cost for the two trips to Washington DC, USA and Cotonou. Benin Republic, were fully sponsored by the World Bank and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
