By patricia.ngevao@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI) has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to propel innovation and economic growth by welcoming nine law students from Columbia Law School to collaborate with eight final-year law students from Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone. The joint effort aims to craft a recommendation framework for a digital tech startup bill poised for enactment by Parliament.
During a four-day intensive session, these students will pool their legal expertise to develop startup acts, establishing a legal framework conducive to the growth of tech startups, attracting foreign investment, and positioning Sierra Leone as a global innovation hub.
Under the leadership of Madam Salima Monorma Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, the collaborative effort acknowledges the unique needs of tech startups, emphasizing the necessity of tailored legislation covering their entire lifecycle, from incorporation to tax laws, duty waivers, and essential services like energy and internet facilities.
Minister Bah highlighted the importance of this collaboration, portraying it as a significant step forward in leveraging legal expertise to drive technological innovation and economic prosperity in Sierra Leone. She emphasized the commitment to embracing the transformative power of digital entrepreneurship in the 21st century.
The collaboration’s key focus areas include nurturing the digital tech startup ecosystem and attracting foreign tech investment to Sierra Leone. Yada Williams Esq, Chairman of The Law Reform Commission of Sierra Leone, provided insights into the country’s legal history, underlining the Commission’s crucial role in modernizing outdated laws to meet present-day needs.
To optimize student engagement, Kahil Ali, Grant and Partnership Lead from MoCTI, outlined high-level objectives and provided an overview of the week’s activities. These include in-depth explorations into the three pillars of Sierra Leone’s National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy: Attract, Thrive, and Retain.
Leading discussions on these pillars, Jesse Kamara, Innovation Lead at MoCTI, delved into factors such as infrastructure, friendly legislation and policies, access to finance, and global integration support. To foster collaborative work across the three key areas, students were organized into groups focusing on Attract, Thrive, and Retain.
This collaborative effort marks a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s commitment to shaping a legal framework that supports the dynamic landscape of tech startups, paving the way for innovation and economic growth in the country. PSN/13/3/2024