By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, 10th April 2026 — Debate over Sierra Leone’s Merchant Shipping Bill 2025 stalled this week as lawmakers clashed over the adequacy of fines for maritime crimes. Speaker of Parliament Hon. Sengehpoh Solomon Thomas paused consideration of the clauses, urging members to conduct further research and benchmark against regional standards.
Thomas warned that weak penalties risk turning Sierra Leone into a safe haven for traffickers. “If they want to commit crimes, they read your laws and decide Sierra Leone is the most convenient area to traffic through. Ship owners should know that when they try Sierra Leone, the punishment is heavy,” he cautioned.
Presenting a joint report from the Legislative and Trade Committees, Hon. Abdulai Conteh noted that current proposals set fines between US$2,000 and US$5,000, depending on the gravity of offences. But several MPs argued these figures are far below international practice.
Hon. Mustapha Sellu compared Sierra Leone’s fines to global standards, where penalties can reach 10 percent of a company’s annual turnover. “No company would risk committing a crime if such fines are in place. Parliament should not put half-baked figures but quantify them in percentage terms,” he urged.
Hon. Maada Lebbie added that Sierra Leone has already been in the news for vessels carrying drugs worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “If fined only US$10,000 or US$20,000, they would pay instantly and continue doing it,” he said.
Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma acknowledged the concerns but stressed that fines must reflect the gravity of offences and be determined in consultation with port professionals and the courts.
