Sierra Leone embarks on AI readiness assessment with World Bank support
Date: 2025-10-02
The Government of Sierra Leone has launched one of the world’s first national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness Assessments, aimed at ensuring the country adopts AI in a responsible and impact-driven manner.
The initiative, led by the
Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation in partnership with the
World Bank through the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP),
marks a significant step toward developing the country’s forthcoming National
Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
As part of the assessment, a
World Bank delegation visited Freetown for the presentation of initial findings
and to engage stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the
private sector. The study is structured around three critical pillars: Compute
(infrastructure), Capacity (skills and talent), and Context (policy and
regulation). It also maps opportunities for applying AI to address Sierra
Leone’s pressing development needs.
Minister of Communication,
Technology and Innovation, Salima Bah, emphasized the country’s purpose-driven
approach to AI adoption, stating: “We are not asking how to fit AI into our
systems; we are asking which national challenges AI can help us solve today.”
The Ministry underscored
that the readiness assessment is designed to ensure AI is deployed inclusively,
ethically, and in ways that are tailored to Sierra Leone’s priorities. By doing
so, Sierra Leone positions itself to become a regional leader in responsible
and sustainable AI adoption.
By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
