-Following his appointment as Acting President of the Association
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson, I
Abuja, Nigeria: In a landmark moment for Liberia’s legal community, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), has been appointed Acting President of the West African Bar Association (WABA). The LNBA President’s ascendancy to the regional Bar follows the unexpected resignation of the West African Bar Association’s former head, Mr. Ousmane Bouba Traore.
The announcement, made known on June 15, 2025, marks a significant shift in regional legal leadership and affirms Liberia’s growing influence in West Africa’s legal and democratic landscape. Cllr. Varmah, a prominent international trade lawyer and respected advocate for judicial reform and professional ethics, now finds himself at the helm of a pivotal regional body tasked with defending justice, the rule of law, and human rights across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.
Speaking during a virtual Executive Committee session on June 13, Cllr. Varmah expressed his deep appreciation and readiness to serve during what he described as “a crucial time for democratic consolidation and legal harmonization in West Africa.”
“I am honored to assume this responsibility at such a critical juncture. We remain committed to the shared vision of a just, democratic, and peaceful West Africa. I extend profound gratitude to Mr. Traore for his service, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation he has laid,” Cllr. Varmah said.
Founded in the early 2000s, the West African Bar Association (WABA) was born out of the growing need to provide a unified legal voice for the defense of democracy and human rights in the ECOWAS region. At a time when civil wars, authoritarianism, and legal impunity plagued much of West Africa, WABA emerged as a platform for lawyers and legal practitioners to act not only as interpreters of the law but as guardians of public accountability and regional peace.
Initially headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, WABA played a central role during the civil unrest in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire, issuing strong legal opinions and mobilizing lawyers to observe elections and document human rights abuses. It partnered with ECOWAS institutions and international civil society to push for constitutionalism and judicial independence across member states.
WABA’s interventions were particularly notable during Liberia’s transition from war to peace, supporting local bar associations and civil society actors in constitutional reforms, transitional justice, and the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The organization has also been a vocal critic of arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and political interference in the judiciary in countries such as Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Cllr. Varmah’s rise to acting leadership of WABA not only marks a personal milestone but also signals a broader recognition of Liberia’s reemergence as a credible actor in regional democratic governance. Under his stewardship, the Liberian National Bar Association has taken bold positions on rule of law issues, judicial independence, and legal education reforms.
The LNBA has increasingly collaborated with sub-regional and continental networks to elevate the voice of Liberian lawyers in regional discourses, including ECOWAS judicial reforms and Africa-wide human rights conventions. With Liberia now assuming a leadership role within WABA, the spotlight is on Monrovia to help steer discussions on democratic backsliding, constitutional order, and civic space, especially as countries like Niger and Mali face mounting international scrutiny over military rule and constitutional crises.
The resignation of Mr. Traore, who cited personal reasons for stepping down, comes at a critical time. His tenure, though relatively short, was marked by his outspoken stance on legal irregularities in francophone West Africa, including election-related judicial controversies in Guinea and Senegal. His departure, while unexpected, has been met with a swift and constitutionally sound transition—a testament to WABA’s institutional maturity.
In the days following his resignation, WABA’s Executive Committee convened to reaffirm its core objectives: the defense of legal rights, the promotion of judicial impartiality, and the consolidation of an independent legal fraternity in the region. According to the organization’s Secretary General, Adesina Adegbite, all national bar associations have been formally informed of the leadership transition, and plans are underway to convene a General Assembly in Nigeria to discuss the association’s roadmap moving forward.
The upcoming meeting is expected to deliberate on strategic reforms, capacity-building programs for young lawyers, and a broader campaign against rising authoritarianism and civic suppression in parts of the region. Cllr. Varmah’s elevation symbolizes more than a procedural shift—it marks a turning point for WABA’s leadership dynamics. With Anglophone West Africa now steering the association’s direction, expectations are high for a renewed focus on cross-border legal cooperation, language inclusivity, and enhanced bar association autonomy.
Stakeholders from across the region are watching closely to see how Cllr. Varmah will navigate the delicate balance of upholding WABA’s longstanding values while introducing reforms that meet the growing demands of a youthful, rights-conscious West African population.
As West Africa confronts democratic backsliding, unconstitutional military takeovers, and judicial manipulation, the West African Bar Association—under Liberian leadership—stands at the frontline of safeguarding the legal order. Cllr. Varmah’s presidency will likely determine how effectively WABA can rise to these challenges and reaffirm the legal profession’s commitment to justice and liberty in the sub-region.
