In a packed courtroom in Freetown, the first prosecution under Sierra Leone's landmark 2022 Prohibition of Child Marriage Act opens today – a case funded by British taxpayers. The defendant, a 45-year-old man accused of marrying a 14-year-old girl, could set a precedent for thousands of girls forced into unions across the country.
This trial is a test for the UK's £18m Justice Sector Reform programme in Sierra Leone, which has trained magistrates and funded legal aid. But activists warn that without addressing poverty – a key driver of child marriage – the law alone cannot protect the most vulnerable.
"The girl was sold for £40," said Aminata Koroma, a local child protection officer. "Her family could not afford the school fees. The money was meant to buy rice for two months."
The UK Foreign Office has praised the trial as a milestone, but Labour MP Sarah Champion, chair of the international development committee, has questioned the sustainability of funding. "This is welcome, but what happens when the UK money runs out? We need long-term investment in girls' education and family support, not just courtroom victories."
The accused man faces up to 15 years in prison. The girl, now 15, has been placed in a safe house. Her mother, who consented to the marriage, is also being investigated.
Sierra Leone has one of the highest child marriage rates in the world: 39% of girls are married before 18. The new law has been hailed by campaigners, but implementation remains patchy. Many traditional leaders still perform secret ceremonies.
"It is the economy," said Hawa Samai, a community elder in Kambia district. "If a farmer cannot feed his family, marrying off his daughter seems like the only option. The land is exhausted. Roads are bad. There are no jobs."
The UK-funded programme has also established specialist police units and fast-track courts. But critics say the focus should shift from prosecution to prevention. "We are seeing more cases reported, which is good," said Mohamed Bangura, a lawyer with the charity Defence for Children. "But we need the state to provide alternatives. Free school meals. Cash transfers. Skills training for mothers."
The British government has committed £50m to girls' education in Sierra Leone over the next four years. But with the UK aid budget under pressure, campaigners are nervous.
"This trial is a start," said Koroma. "But it cannot be a photo opportunity for donors. The real work begins now – in the villages, in the fields, at the kitchen tables where families decide their daughters' futures."
The trial is expected to last two weeks. A verdict will be watched closely across West Africa, where similar laws are being drafted in Gambia and Tanzania.
For the girl at the centre of the case, her testimony will be heard behind closed doors. Her mother will not be in court. The cost of a bus ticket from their village was more than the price paid for her daughter's marriage.
