By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
Under the theme “Enhancing the Business Environment through Legal Reform,” the National Investment Board Secretariat, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, convened a regional stakeholders’ consultation on the proposed Companies and Allied Matters Bill 2026 in Bo.
The day-long consultation, held at Bo Inn Hotel, brought together representatives from diverse business sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), corporate entities, and other key private sector stakeholders. The engagement aimed to solicit views and recommendations on the proposed legislation before its final submission to Government.
Delivering the opening statement, the Deputy Executive Director of the National Investment Board, Madam Fatima Mahawa Sandi, underscored the importance of the consultation, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening Sierra Leone’s investment climate.
She explained that the National Investment Board serves as a facilitative body, assisting investors in obtaining the necessary permits, licences, and support services required to establish and expand their businesses. According to her, the institution’s overarching objective is to create a more attractive, transparent, and efficient business environment in Sierra Leone.
Madam Sandi disclosed that the proposed Companies and Allied Matters Bill 2026 seeks to harmonise key legislation, including the Companies Act (2009/2014), the Business Registration Act (2007), and the National Investment Board Act (2022), among other related laws. She noted that the harmonisation process is intended to enhance investor protection, promote transparency, strengthen compliance mechanisms, and support the transition of informal businesses into the formal sector.
She further emphasised that the Bill aligns with international best practices and is designed to streamline business registration processes, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, eliminate overlapping procedures, and promote digital and online registration systems.
Highlighting recent reforms, Madam Sandi informed participants that the National Investment Board has established a One-Stop Shop to facilitate the registration of companies, sole proprietorships, and partnerships, ensuring simplified procedures and greater clarity for investors.
In her remarks to the press, the Acting Director of Operations, Business Facilitation and Corporate Affairs, Madam Florence Dabo, explained that the National Investment Board was established in 2022 to consolidate and coordinate investment-related functions under a single authority with a clearly defined mandate.
She stated that the regional consultation in Bo forms part of a nationwide stakeholder engagement process aimed at capturing the views of the business community. These contributions, she assured, will be incorporated into the final draft of the Companies and Allied Matters Bill 2026 to ensure the development of a comprehensive and inclusive legal framework for submission to Government.
Madam Dabo also noted that the World Bank–supported initiative seeks to address systemic challenges affecting the investment climate and foster a more seamless and predictable business environment across the country.
Meanwhile, the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, launched in 2020, aims to increase investment and promote the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in non-mining productive sectors, thereby strengthening economic resilience and broadening Sierra Leone’s development base.
The consultation concluded with interactive discussions, during which stakeholders shared practical recommendations to ensure that the proposed legislation effectively reflects the realities of doing business in Sierra Leone.