Freetown, 17th November 2025 – Sierra Leone has pledged a series of reforms aimed at improving access to justice for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), following its participation in the OECD Roundtable on “Enhancing Access to Justice for SMEs.” The commitment comes amid growing recognition that SMEs vital engines of employment, innovation, and economic growth, face persistent legal barriers that undermine their ability to thrive.
At the closing panel of the roundtable, Alpha Sesay Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice acknowledged that justice services are often ill-suited to the realities of small businesses. Challenges such as contract enforcement, dispute resolution, and navigating complex legal systems continue to hinder SME operations and investment confidence.
In response, Sesay announced a multi-pronged strategy to tailor justice services to the needs of SMEs. Key promises include: Expansion of small claims courts to handle low-value commercial disputes efficiently, deployment of mediation centers for civil and commercial conflicts, establishment of justice hubs and clinics to provide legal support in underserved areas.
He also promised, legal reforms, including the decriminalization of petty offenses that penalize debt-related issues for SMEs, clearing the backlog of cases in the courts to reduce delays and improve legal predictability and streamlining access to justice mechanisms to make legal engagement more accessible and affordable for entrepreneurs
He emphasized that these reforms are not merely administrative but central to Sierra Leone’s broader economic transformation agenda. “Improving justice services for SMEs is critical to fostering a more predictable and sustainable investment climate,” the Justice Minister stated. “It strengthens legal certainty, builds public trust, and supports inclusive economic reform.”
The OECD Roundtable highlighted the global importance of SME-friendly justice systems, noting that legal empowerment is a cornerstone of equitable development. Sierra Leone’s commitments signal a shift toward embedding legal access into its economic policy framework a move welcomed by stakeholders across the region.
