The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent institution established by Section 146 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Act No.6 of 1991) and the Ombudsman Act (Act No.2 of 1997). The Office is empowered to investigate complaints from members of the public, who have suffered injustice as a result of maladministration, by government officials, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The head of the office is referred to as the Ombudsman.

 Tejan Ahmed Israel Jah, Esq. is the new Ombudsman of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Until his appointment Mr. Jah was the Acting Director of Legal Affairs and Board Secretariat at the National Social Security and Insurance Trust, (NASSIT). He attended the Albert Academy Secondary School. Tejan Ahmed Israel Jah is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone. He is a graduate from Fourah Bay College and holds an LLB Honors Degree, an Executive Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the Institute of Public Administration and Management, University of Sierra Leone, an utter Barrister from the Sierra Leone Law School and an LLM from the University of Salford in UK.

The Ombudsman receives complaints about injustice and maladministration from persons who feel that they have been unfairly treated by government agencies or officials, and employees and have tried to resolve the matter without success.

He also has the power to investigate, critize, mediate and recommend corrective actions.

In addition, he can also receive information from any person or source, other than a complainant.

The Ombudsman has the power to demand any information, file or documents from any    public body complained of, or require any official to provide any information about a complaint. If the Ombudsman finds that the complaint is justified, he would then take action to resolve the problem.

The Ombudsman cannot deal with matters relating to: 

• Complaint against Private Institutions
• Complaint against foreign governments
• Cases that have been decided by the Courts

Normally, the complaints are submitted in writing and signed by the complainant. If the complainant is illiterate, a verbal complaint is received and recorded in a written form by an Official in the office of the Ombudsman.

A complaint could be delivered by hand, or sent by post or through the electronic media and its website.

 All relevant documents must be attached to the complaint.

The complaint will be acknowledged and an investigation conducted promptly in a private and professional manner.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the complainant will be informed of the outcome.

In most instances a public body will comply with the Ombudsman's recommendations. However, if for some reason tha body concerned fails to act on the Ombudsman's recommendations he has the power to report to His Excellency the President. If after three months no action is taken by the President, the Ombudsman will refer the matter to Parlaiment.

The Office of the Ombudsman strives for impartiality.  The Ombudsman is directly responsible to the President and not to any administrative office or person.

After a thorough investigation of any complaint the Ombudsman may recommend to the appropriate authority or official that:

• Further consideration of the matter be made.
• Modification or cancellation of the offending adminisdtrative or other act be effected.
• Alteration of a regulation or ruling be effected.