Sierra Leone’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Alpha Sesay Esq., has engaged the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on strengthening the country’s preparedness, governance and legal framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The engagement took place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, on the margins of the 4th UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Hon. Alpha Sesay held a bilateral meeting with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Science and Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Abou Amani and his team.

During the meeting, Hon. Alpha Sesay outlined the priorities of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers, highlighting the potential role of artificial intelligence in supporting national development and advancing the Government’s development agenda.

The Attorney-General explained that Sierra Leone has established a clear position on the importance of AI but has not yet enacted specific AI legislation. He stressed the need for the country to build a strong understanding of artificial intelligence, its applications and its potential contribution to national development.

Hon. Alpha Sesay also informed the UNESCO delegation that Sierra Leone already has a cybersecurity framework and that the Government has made progress towards the development of a Data Protection Bill.

He further emphasized the importance of making AI accessible and understandable to ordinary citizens, noting that discussions around artificial intelligence should extend beyond legal professionals and other specialists to reach the wider population.

“We are interested in the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and in tapping into UNESCO’s support extended to other countries,” Hon. Alpha Sesay said.

The Attorney-General also disclosed that Sierra Leone had tabled a proposal at the ECOWAS level aimed at promoting regional cooperation on AI governance, signaling the country’s interest in developing coordinated approaches to the emerging technology across West Africa.

Responding to the presentation, Dr. Abou Amani welcomed Sierra Leone’s interest and indicated UNESCO’s openness to supporting the country through the Readiness Assessment Methodology process.

He further confirmed that a UNESCO Communication and Information Team is expected to visit Sierra Leone later this month to provide training for members of the legal community, including the Judiciary, law officers and private legal practitioners.

The meeting concluded with an agreement for further engagement between Sierra Leone and UNESCO when the visiting team arrives in Freetown.

Hon. Alpha Sesay was accompanied at the bilateral meeting by State Counsel, Alpha Amadu Bah Esq. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64662