Over 75 stakeholders from the Southern and Eastern regions gathered in Bo for a regional consultation on Sierra Leone’s draft Data Protection Regulation Commission Bill, a key step toward establishing a national data protection law.
The consultation was organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) and featured participants from local government, civil society, security forces, and development partners.
In his keynote address, Hon. Ing. John Abu, Resident Minister South, praised the government’s commitment to digital governance, saying the bill will ensure that “hospitals, schools, the media, and the justice system can work with data responsibly while protecting the privacy of every Sierra Leonean.”
From the security sector, AIG South Andrew M. Kamara said the proposed law will help strengthen justice and law enforcement through secure and ethical data management.
National Consultant Mr. D.D. Thompson provided the policy context, highlighting the impact of Sierra Leone’s growing digital landscape on data use, while International Consultant Mr. Paul Okirig offered global and regional best practices.
Representing MoICE, Mr. Timothy Sam, Head of Partnerships, acknowledged support from UNDP, Irish Aid, the EU, and other partners, while Permanent Secretary Andrew S. Kamara reaffirmed the Ministry’s plan to finalize the bill in 2025.
The consultation continues with in-depth dialogue and stakeholder recommendations to shape the final.
