AG Opens ARIPO Workshop, Calls for Stronger Innovation Ecosystem

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., has called for Sierra Leone to transition from being a consumer of innovation to becoming a producer of innovation, emphasizing the critical role of intellectual property in driving economic growth, investment, entrepreneurship, and national development.

He made the statement while delivering the keynote address at the ARIPO Online Services Sensitization Workshop held on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.

IThe workshop was organized 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).

Addressing participants, Mr. Sesay described intellectual property as a vital component of a modern economy and stressed the need for Sierra Leone to build a system that enables innovators, entrepreneurs, and creators to protect and commercialize their ideas.

The Attorney General highlighted the country’s longstanding partnership with ARIPO and outlined recent legislative reforms aimed at strengthening the intellectual property framework.

He cited the enactment of the Trade Marks Registration Act, 2024, and Cabinet’s approval of the ratification of the Protocol on Intellectual Property as significant milestones in the Government’s reform agenda.

According to him, these measures reflect the Government’s commitment to establishing a modern, accessible, and internationally aligned intellectual property regime capable of supporting innovation and economic transformation.

Mr. Sesay further noted that legislative reforms alone would not be sufficient to strengthen the sector, emphasizing the importance of administrative capacity, digital transformation, and increased public awareness. He said these efforts would enable businesses, innovators, and creators to effectively benefit from their intellectual assets.

Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to closer cooperation with ARIPO, the Attorney General said intellectual property reform remains an important component of Sierra Leone’s broader economic development agenda.

Earlier, Administrator and Registrar General, Madam Martina Baindu Egbenda, welcomed participants and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment as a member state of ARIPO. She described intellectual property as an important tool for innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

Madam Egbenda also emphasized the importance of digital transformation in intellectual property administration, noting that the workshop would equip participants with practical knowledge of ARIPO’s electronic services platform and contribute to improving service delivery in Sierra Leone.

Speaking on behalf of ARIPO Director General, Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, the organization’s Head of Information and Communication Technology, Mr. Grey Njowola, reaffirmed ARIPO’s commitment to supporting member states through digital innovation and improved intellectual property administration.

Mr. Njowola disclosed that 80 percent of all new applications received by ARIPO in 2025 were submitted through its online platform, demonstrating increasing confidence in the efficiency and accessibility of the e-service system.

He also commended Sierra Leone for its commitment to intellectual property reforms and the domestication of outstanding protocols, while reaffirming ARIPO’s dedication to building stronger institutions and a modern intellectual property ecosystem across Africa.

The workshop brought together government officials, legal practitioners, entrepreneurs, innovators, intellectual property professionals, and other stakeholders to deepen understanding of ARIPO’s digital services and strengthen Sierra Leone’s intellectual property framework.

At the conclusion of his address, the Attorney General officially declared the ARIPO Online Services Sensitization Workshop open.