The Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), has convened a sensitization workshop on ARIPO’s online services at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
Welcoming participants, the Administrator and Registrar General of Sierra Leone, Madam Martina Baindu Egbenda, reaffirmed the country’s commitment as a member state of ARIPO and underscored the importance of intellectual property as a key driver of innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
She emphasized the growing role of digital transformation in intellectual property administration, noting that the workshop would equip participants with practical knowledge of ARIPO’s electronic services platform. According to her, this would help strengthen efficient and modern intellectual property service delivery in Sierra Leone and the wider region.
Speaking on behalf of the ARIPO Director General, Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, the organization’s Head of ICT, Mr. Grey Njowola, reaffirmed ARIPO’s commitment to supporting member states through digital innovation and improved intellectual property administration aimed at promoting creativity and sustainable development across Africa.
He highlighted the success of ARIPO’s e-service platform, disclosing that 80 percent of all new applications received in 2025 were submitted online, reflecting growing confidence in the system’s efficiency and accessibility. He also commended Sierra Leone for its commitment to intellectual property reforms and the domestication of key protocols, noting that ARIPO continues to strengthen collaboration with member states as it marks its 50th anniversary.
In his keynote address, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., described intellectual property as a critical pillar of economic development, innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship. He called for Sierra Leone to transition from being a consumer of innovation to becoming a producer capable of competing in the global knowledge economy.
He highlighted recent reforms, including the enactment of the Trade Marks Registration Act, 2024, and Cabinet’s approval of the ratification of the Protocol on Intellectual Property, describing them as key milestones in building a modern and internationally aligned intellectual property framework.
Mr. Sesay further stressed that legal reforms must be supported by strong administrative systems, digital transformation, and public awareness to ensure that innovators, entrepreneurs, and businesses can effectively protect and commercialize their ideas.
Reaffirming government’s commitment to deepening cooperation with ARIPO, the Attorney General officially declared the workshop open.
The event brought together government officials, legal practitioners, innovators, entrepreneurs, and intellectual property stakeholders to enhance understanding of ARIPO’s digital services and strengthen Sierra Leone’s intellectual property ecosystem.
