Sierra Leone showcases digital and AI leadership at UNGA 80
Date: 2025-09-23
Salima Monorma Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, has highlighted the country’s growing leadership in digital transformation and artificial intelligence during a series of high-level engagements at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
At the High-Level Roundtable on Building Resilient Digital Backbones, hosted by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Minister Bah stressed the importance of regional cooperation and investment to safeguard Africa’s digital economy. Drawing from Sierra Leone’s experience with digital disruptions, she noted: “We do not build redundancy because we expect failure every day; we build it because the cost of a single catastrophic failure is unacceptable.”
Delivering the opening
statement on “Building with Foresight: Sierra Leone’s Evidence-Based Approach
to Digital Public Infrastructure”, the Minister outlined how deliberate
policymaking, strong institutions, and innovative technologies are shaping
Sierra Leone’s digital future. From nationwide digital ID coverage and
mobile-first service delivery to regulatory sandboxes and global partnerships,
she emphasized how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is empowering citizens
while safeguarding trust, privacy, and accountability.
At the Africa AI Village,
hosted on the sidelines of UNGA 80, Minister Bah joined a fireside chat
organized by Qhala, where she discussed Sierra Leone’s AI Readiness
Diagnostic. She described it as a critical first step in identifying
opportunities and challenges, offering clarity and credibility for future
investments.
She further called for
addressing key gaps in infrastructure, data, and talent, while pushing for
stronger regional frameworks through ECOWAS. Highlighting the importance of
sustainable partnerships, she underscored the need to move from a culture of
“donation” to one of genuine co-creation with global technology partners.
By:
Richard Kwaku Dankwa
