By: Alice A. Kamara
Strategic Communication Unit
The Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, has said Sierra Leone is developing a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy that will respond to the country’s specific needs, priorities and development ambitions.
Speaking during the New York edition of the Civic Day Series, held on Thursday, 24 September 2026, Minister Bah said the Government deliberately started with an assessment of the country’s readiness for artificial intelligence rather than moving directly to the development of a general strategy.
“We recently completed an AI Diagnostics and Readiness Assessment Report because we wanted our strategy to be specifically tailored to our national context rather than just publishing a generic template,” she stated.
According to the Minister, the assessment will guide the development of the National AI Strategy and help the Government determine how artificial intelligence can be applied within Sierra Leone’s existing circumstances and future development plans.
She explained that the strategy will provide direction for the responsible deployment of AI in priority areas of national development.
“Our national strategy will define how AI is deployed across key sectors, including education, health, security and public administration,” Minister Bah said.
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen digital capacity within the public service. In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration, her Ministry has introduced a weekly digital skills training programme to equip civil servants with practical tools that can improve their daily work and support more effective public-service delivery.
The Minister further underscored the importance of collaboration with Sierra Leoneans living abroad, particularly those with professional experience, technical knowledge, networks and ideas that can contribute to the country’s digital transformation.
“We have been actively engaging with diaspora networks to build vehicles for direct collaboration,” she said.
Minister Bah encouraged Sierra Leoneans with ideas and initiatives to engage the Ministry, noting that it remains accessible and willing to provide opportunities for constructive participation.
“We operate on an open-door policy. If you have an initiative or idea, please share it with us—we are very active on social media and happy to provide a platform,” she stated.
Her engagement with Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora provided an update on the Government’s approach to artificial intelligence, digital capacity-building and collaboration. It also clarified that the country’s proposed AI Strategy will be informed by evidence and designed around Sierra Leone’s own challenges, opportunities and national priorities.