Sierra Leone’s Parliament is preparing to ratify the African Road Safety Charter following a high-level engagement between the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, and key parliamentary committees.
The meeting, held in the Speaker’s Conference Room at Tower Hill, brought together members of both the Legislative and Transport Committees to discuss the charter’s ratification. The initiative, spearheaded by SLRSA, is part of Sierra Leone’s broader commitment to advancing road safety and aligning with continental frameworks.
Delivering a detailed presentation, SLRSA’s Company Secretary, Abu-Bakarr Sheriff Esq., outlined the historical context and strategic importance of the charter. He noted that the African Road Safety Charter was officially adopted on 31 January 2016 during the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa.
Sheriff described the Charter as both a policy guide and an advocacy instrument aimed at drastically reducing road traffic accidents across the continent. “It provides a unified framework to create enabling environments for safer roads and stronger regional cooperation,” he said.
Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Hon. Abdul Maray-Conteh, praised the effort, calling the document well-prepared and free from political overtones. He assured the SLRSA team that Parliament would debate and ratify the Charter soon. However, he emphasized the need for effective implementation after ratification, urging SLRSA to collaborate with other state actors, civil society, and the private sector to ensure its full execution.
Echoing this sentiment, Deputy Opposition Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hon. Daniel Koroma, hailed the move as commendable. He further encouraged the SLRSA to partner with Emergency Hospital and other stakeholders to improve post-crash response facilities nationwide.
Several members of the committees raised concerns about the need to intensify road safety education and ensure widespread awareness of the Charter’s provisions, especially those outlined in Article 22 on public popularization.
In response, Sheriff reassured Parliament that Sierra Leone’s ratification, combined with similar actions by at least 15 AU member states, would activate the Charter and lead to the establishment of the African Road Safety Observatory (AFSO). The Observatory will serve as a technical and political platform to enhance data collection, facilitate collaboration, and shape policy responses to reduce road fatalities across Africa.
Once ratified, Sierra Leone will join a growing list of countries committed to making Africa’s roads safer through unified strategy, data-driven policymaking, and international cooperation.
By Jane Koroma
