In a significant stride toward enhancing consumer rights and public safety, Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh officially launched the National Consumer Protection Commission of Sierra Leone on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio.

The commission, established by law in 2020 but operationalized only last year, marks the culmination of efforts that began in 2005.

Chief Minister Sengeh hailed the launch as a testament to governance and leadership under President Bio, emphasizing its importance in addressing long-standing consumer issues.

“This commission is an example of what governance and leadership are,” he remarked. “Thank you, President Bio, for doing what many before you couldn’t. We de don di game.”

The Chief Minister also shared a personal commitment to consumer protection, recounting his involvement in field inspections earlier this year after receiving complaints about expired products being sold in the streets.

“We found and engaged businesses and petty traders, even fining those found wanting. This is what good citizen action looks like,” he said, adding a stern reminder against “immoral begging” for individuals caught violating consumer protection laws.

“Don’t beg for your relative who has broken the law by stocking expired products,” he warned. “Because when you do, it might be your own child who unknowingly buys the next counterfeit product.”

Chief Minister Sengeh underscored the commission’s alignment with democratic principles and radical inclusion, highlighting its role in advancing Sierra Leone’s broader development agenda.

“At the heart of consumer protection is democracy—government for the people,” he stated. “What will make it have an accelerated impact is when we all come together as one government and one people to support the president and the government’s focus on the Big Five.”

The establishment of the National Consumer Protection Commission demonstrates the government’s commitment to fostering accountability, safeguarding public health, and empowering citizens to demand quality and fairness in the marketplace.