The Government of Sierra Leone has approved the country’s first-ever National Data Protection Policy and major legislative reforms that will combine data protection and access to information into a single, strengthened authority, officials announced Tuesday.

At the weekly government press briefing, held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, described the reforms as a major milestone in safeguarding citizens’ privacy and improving transparency in the management of personal and institutional data.

The reforms, piloted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education alongside the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, include the repeal of the Right to Access Information Commission Act.

Cabinet has authorized the drafting and enactment of a new Data Protection and Right to Access Information Act, which will create a unified authority with the dual mandate of protecting personal data and overseeing access to public information.

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Under the new framework, the existing Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) will be expanded into a more powerful institution, with enhanced investigative, compliance, and enforcement authority over both public and private sector data handling.

Minister Bah emphasized that the reforms mark a “foundational shift” in the treatment of citizens’ information. “This is a historic paper… with the creation of a unified Authority, we are bringing citizens’ data rights and privacy into a new era,” he said.

The Minister added that the policy will introduce a clear regime for managing personal information, holding public institutions and digital platforms to defined standards regarding the collection, storage, and processing of data. “This will strengthen citizens’ rights, including the right to privacy,” he noted.

Cabinet has also directed the Ministry of Information and Civic Education to collaborate with the Attorney-General’s office to finalize and table the new Bill in Parliament, and to coordinate the national data protection agenda across government.

The National Data Protection Policy provides a comprehensive framework for the collection, processing, storage, and sharing of personal data in Sierra Leone. Officials say the policy is designed to align the country with modern digital governance standards and build public trust in government institutions.

The reform follows extensive consultations involving civil society, the media, security institutions, and development partners, and aims to bridge gaps between transparency, cybersecurity, and data governance.

Once enacted, the new authority will consolidate regulatory functions, overseeing both access to information requests and enforcement of data protection standards nationwide.