Margaret Murray is a Sierra Leonean lawyer, journalist, public relations specialist, entrepreneur, and gender rights advocate whose career reflects a unique blend of leadership, communication, and service. Crowned Miss Sierra Leone 2014/15, she transformed that platform into a decade-long journey of public impact, becoming a legal practitioner, media personality, anti-corruption advocate, and mentor to young leaders.
Through her work in law, public affairs, women’s empowerment, and social justice, Margaret has consistently demonstrated a commitment to building systems that promote accountability, transparency, and equal opportunities for all.
In this interview, Margaret discusses her decision to contest for the position of Treasurer of the Sierra Leone Bar Association and shares her vision for strengthening the institution.
Recent concerns over the delayed processing of payment slips and difficulties with registration have sparked debate within the Bar Association. If elected Treasurer, how would you improve the payment and registration process to ensure efficiency and accountability?
“My message has been simple, clear, and consistent since I made the public declaration to run for the office of Treasurer of the Sierra Leone Bar Association. I believe in accountability, transparency, responsible stewardship, and responsiveness. It’s a shame that we even have to discuss the deliberate delay in processing payment slips and the difficulties with registration. As a body, respect for your fellow learned colleagues should be the foundation of our profession. Should this election be conducted free and fair, I guarantee you I will be the Treasurer of our Association.
My first assignment is to introduce a secure digital payment platform that allows members to pay dues and other fees electronically through multiple channels, including bank transfers, mobile money, and online payment gateways, at their convenience, wherever they find themselves, as long as they have access to the internet and other required services. This would reduce reliance on manual processes, minimize delays, and provide instant payment confirmation.
Thankfully, the world is evolving, and digitization is becoming more efficient and even more necessary. Multiple AI apps help in building payment apps that could help the Treasurer’s office. All you need is a progressive mind. But the frustrating part is that the Bar Association I have known for almost 10 years now never needed to process slips for elections in such a manner; members only had to show their bank slips, which indicated the amount paid and the timestamp, ensuring dues were paid in and on time. But now that this difficulty has been highlighted and exposed, it’s high time we make access easy for professionals who, by virtue of their career path, are busy.
Secondly, I would establish an integrated registration and payment tracking system that automatically links payments to members’ records. This would eliminate the frequent challenges of possible lost payment slips, delayed verification by the office, an absent treasurer at the office, and the registration bottlenecks. This way, members would be able to track the status of their payments and registrations in real time by logging in to the system or receiving an alert.
Furthermore, I have learned through the years that transparency builds trust, so ensuring that financial reports are made available to members would allow them to see how the resources of the Association are being managed by having detailed subscription collection, registration data, and possible pending transactions. Members need to know how their finances are being managed with transparency and accountability.
Finally, we will utilise the Administrative staff at the Secretariat by ensuring they serve as support staff and establish a feedback mechanism that will respond quickly to concerns raised by members due to payment-related issues and any other issues.
I hope to serve members efficiently, transparently, reliably, and with accountability while at the same time upholding the highest standards of financial stewardship.”
Many lawyers believe the Association needs a more transparent financial management system. Elaborating on your previous points, what specific measures would you introduce to improve financial transparency and member confidence in the office of Treasurer?
“I always say this: financial transparency is essential to the credibility of any association, institution, company, and what have you. Members need to have confidence that the resources entrusted to your leadership are being managed responsibly. One of the first steps I would take as Treasurer is to ensure that there are regular financial reports made available to members. These reports will be made clear and understandable to all members so they can easily interpret them personally and know how their funds are being utilized.
In addition to that, I strongly believe the Association needs independent external auditing to help manage resources and highlight discrepancies in the financial book(s). This will additionally give confidence to members and even foster early subscription payment and possibly growing numbers in payment.
I also intend to operate an open-door policy for members. Lack of proper communication breeds misunderstanding and further breeds lack of confidence in authority. I will ensure I listen to members’ concerns, complaints, and feedback and then address each of them with the respect they deserve. At the end of the day, this office is one of service, and serve you must.”
Technology is transforming professional institutions across Africa. You envision introducing digital systems or reforms to modernize how the Bar Association handles dues, receipts, reporting, and member communication. Tell us more about this.
“Introducing technology into the financial management of the Association should not be optional, as technology is essential to the daily dealings of institutions-the legal institution being no exception. It is a must. There are so many digital payment systems available to us; I intend for the Association to make good use of them. I earlier stated that I want our members to be able to make their transactions from wherever they are, whether in or out of Sierra Leone, and I mean that. We shall engage platforms such as Afrimoney, Orange Money, Vult, Monime, etc., and more efficiently and independently look at launching and operating our own App. In all of these platforms, I will ensure that members receive instant receipts and payment confirmations for all transactions made, which will serve as evidence of payment.
The unprecedented difficulty that we have experienced during this time, with specifics to the processing of payment slips and lack of communication, warrants us to go to the drawing board, choose better leaders who have a vision that aligns with the membership of the Association. An executive that has a progressive mindset, one that is ready to serve, and one that will listen to and respect the voice of its members.”
Leadership in professional associations often requires balancing service, accessibility, and accountability. What leadership values would define your tenure as Treasurer, and how would members experience the difference under your administration?
“In my daily dealings, I have core values that I do not negotiate. I will bring with me those values should I be elected as the Treasurer of the Bar Association. Those values: accountability, transparency, service, and integrity. A fifth value I would most definitely bring along with me to this office is that of progressiveness.
I will keep members honestly and regularly informed on financial reports and data through open communication on how resources are being managed. Taking up responsibility for the financial stewardship of our resources and having members hold me accountable for the same. I will ensure that I am accessible and responsive to members even through busy times, and when not readily available, they can easily refer to the Administrative staff at the Secretariat, who will be able to note down their concerns and, where possible, resolve the issues brought forward.
My focus is on members and members only. Being progressive means being open to positive change and recognizing that the needs of our members are evolving and our service must evolve with them. One positive change I have already made mention of implementing within the financial management of our Association is technology by way of the digital payment system. This will improve efficiency, improve record keeping, make transactions faster, ease the burden on members, and consolidate all our data in one space for ease of reference.”
As elections draw closer, what is your message to members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association who are seeking credible, transparent, and forward-looking leadership?
“As we draw closer to elections, my message to members is straightforward and short. Those who have ears, let them hear; those who have eyes, let them see and read; those who have mouths, let them speak. Choose leaders who care about the positive growth of the Association. Leaders who pride themselves on integrity, credibility, service to members, progress, and unifying the Bar. A UNITED bar is what I envision and long to see. The Bar is bigger than all of us; it is the collective mouthpiece of our profession, and we must treat it with integrity. Let us elect members who will inspire us and strengthen our profession, members who promote inclusion rather than division, and ones who will reposition this Bar as the RESPECTED, UNITED, PROFESSIONAL, AND INFLUENTIAL institution it once was. On the day of the election, may your conscience serve you right to do what needs to be done for the betterment of the Bar. The future of the Bar is in your hands; use your vote thoughtfully and wisely.”
Building Greater Trust
As Margaret Murray makes her case for the office of Treasurer, her message remains centered on accountability, transparency, service, and innovation. Through her proposals for digital transformation, improved financial reporting, and greater member engagement, she presents a vision of a more efficient, responsive, and united Sierra Leone Bar Association. Whether discussing financial stewardship or institutional reform, Murray’s focus is clear: building better systems that serve members with integrity, professionalism, and respect while positioning the Bar for a stronger future.
Learn more about her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-murray11/?skipRedirect=true
