Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, has explained why the country has chosen not to rush into enacting legislation governing artificial intelligence (AI), saying effective laws must be grounded in a clear understanding of the country’s realities.

Sesay made the statement while representing Sierra Leone at the 4th UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the forum, the Minister said Sierra Leone’s approach is based on the view that the quality of legislation is more important than the speed at which laws are enacted.

He noted that AI presents significant risks and opportunities for developing countries, particularly as automated decision-making systems can reproduce existing inequalities and biased or incomplete data can result in discriminatory outcomes.

Sesay also highlighted emerging concerns surrounding technology-facilitated violence, misinformation, synthetic media and algorithmic discrimination, noting that these developments are advancing faster than many existing legal frameworks can respond.

According to the Minister, Sierra Leone’s approach must ensure that technological innovation does not leave citizens behind, particularly people who remain offline and may be disadvantaged as society becomes increasingly digital.

“Our objective is clear: to harness AI for development while ensuring that technology remains grounded in human rights, inclusion, fairness and the rule of law,” Sesay stated.

He said Sierra Leone remains focused on developing an approach to AI that balances technological innovation with the protection of citizens’ rights and equitable participation in the digital society.