By Sallieu S. Kanu
Sierra Leone – June 23, 2026: Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., has officially opened the ARIPO Online Services Sensitization Workshop, underscoring the country’s commitment to modernizing intellectual property administration through digital transformation.
The workshop, held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, was convened by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in collaboration with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).
Strengthening IP for Innovation and Growth
Welcoming participants, Administrator and Registrar General Madam Martina Baindu Egbenda reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s pride as a Member State of ARIPO. She described intellectual property as a strategic tool for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development, stressing that digital platforms are essential for efficient and accessible service delivery.
Madam Egbenda noted that the workshop would equip stakeholders with practical knowledge of ARIPO’s electronic services platform, helping Sierra Leone strengthen its intellectual property ecosystem and align with regional best practices.
ARIPO’s Digital Transformation Drive
Delivering remarks on behalf of ARIPO Director General Bemanya Twebaze, ARIPO Head of ICT Grey Njowola highlighted the success of the Organization’s e-Service platform. He disclosed that 80 percent of new applications received in 2025 were filed online, reflecting growing confidence in the system’s efficiency and accessibility.
Njowola commended Sierra Leone’s commitment to intellectual property reforms and the domestication of outstanding protocols. As ARIPO marks its 50th anniversary this year, he reaffirmed the Organization’s dedication to building stronger institutions and a future-ready intellectual property ecosystem across Africa.
Sierra Leone’s Reform Agenda
In his keynote address, Attorney General Alpha Sesay described intellectual property as a critical pillar of innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship. He emphasized Sierra Leone’s need to transition from being primarily a consumer of innovation to becoming a producer capable of competing in the global knowledge economy.
Sesay cited recent legislative milestones, including the enactment of the Trade Marks Registration Act, 2024, and Cabinet’s approval of the ratification of the Protocol on Intellectual Property, as evidence of the Government’s commitment to building a modern and internationally aligned IP system. He stressed that reforms must be complemented by administrative capacity, digital transformation, and public awareness to ensure innovators and businesses can fully benefit from their intellectual assets.
Declaring the workshop open, Sesay reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s partnership with ARIPO and its determination to advance intellectual property reform as part of the country’s broader economic transformation agenda.
The sensitization workshop brought together government officials, legal practitioners, innovators, entrepreneurs, and intellectual property professionals to deepen understanding of ARIPO’s digital services and strengthen Sierra Leone’s intellectual property framework.