The Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Hon. Emerson Saa Lamina, has applauded Parliament for ratifying seven major international treaties aimed at strengthening intellectual property rights, protecting creative industries and aligning Sierra Leone with global legal standards.
Contributing to the debate during the parliamentary sitting, Hon. Lamina described the ratification of the agreements as a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s legislative history, noting that Parliament was exercising its constitutional mandate under Section 105 of the Constitution, which vests legislative authority in Parliament.
He praised the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Alpha Sesay, Esq., for presenting the agreements before Parliament, describing the move as a bold step towards bringing Sierra Leone’s legal framework in line with international best practices.
According to Hon. Lamina, although the treaties were adopted decades ago—some dating back to 1886 Sierra Leone is only now domesticating them to provide legal protection for its artists, writers, performers, inventors, broadcasters and other creators.
He observed that countries around the world had benefited from these conventions for generations, while Sierra Leone had lagged behind in protecting the intellectual and creative rights of its citizens.
Speaking on the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances (2012), Hon. Lamina said the agreement guarantees performers fair compensation for their creative contributions and promotes cultural diversity by ensuring that artists receive recognition and economic benefits from their work.
He described the treaty as a major boost for Sierra Leone’s creative sector, explaining that it enhances the livelihood of performers and encourages greater investment in the country’s cultural industries.
On the Marrakech Treaty (2013), the Deputy Leader highlighted its importance in improving access to books and educational materials for blind, visually impaired and print-disabled persons.
He recalled the experience of a visually impaired law student who was unable to fully pursue his legal education due to the lack of accessible learning materials. According to him, had such legislation been domesticated earlier, many persons living with disabilities would have enjoyed greater educational opportunities and legal protection.
He commended the treaty for promoting equality, inclusion and cross-border sharing of accessible reading materials, describing it as a landmark agreement that advances social justice.
Hon. Lamina also welcomed the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, expressing concern over the growing incidence of plagiarism within educational institutions and the creative sector.
He lamented the declining reading culture among young people, attributing it partly to excessive dependence on social media and digital entertainment. He warned that plagiarism undermines academic integrity and discourages original research, innovation and creativity.
He called on Government to strengthen the Copyright Commission, improve enforcement against piracy and expand public education on intellectual property rights.
The Deputy Leader further drew attention to the Brussels Convention Relating to the Distribution of Programme-Carrying Signals Transmitted by Satellite (1974), noting that the treaty offers important legal protection against the unauthorised interception and rebroadcasting of satellite signals.
He urged Government to invest in stronger digital regulatory systems and monitoring mechanisms capable of protecting Sierra Leone’s broadcasting and communication infrastructure.
On the Madrid Agreement on Indications of Source, Hon. Lamina underscored the importance of protecting Sierra Leone’s geographical products and natural resources. He argued that proper identification of products based on their origin would enhance the country’s international reputation while creating greater economic opportunities for local producers.
He used Sierra Leone’s diamonds, gold, coffee and cocoa as examples of products whose value could be significantly increased through proper certification and value addition.
The Deputy Leader called for the establishment of national processing facilities, including gold refineries and diamond polishing centres, to ensure that the country’s mineral resources generate maximum economic benefits before export.
He maintained that Sierra Leone should emulate countries that have successfully added value to their natural resources rather than exporting raw materials with limited returns.
Turning to the Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorised Duplication of their Phonograms (Geneva, 1971), Hon. Lamina said the treaty provides vital legal safeguards against piracy and illegal reproduction of sound recordings.
He stressed that musicians, producers, playwrights, filmmakers and other creative professionals deserve the same level of protection afforded to investors in the extractive sector.
He argued that while Government has enacted policies to protect investments in mining, similar attention should be given to protecting intellectual and creative investments that contribute significantly to national development.
Throughout his presentation, Hon. Lamina repeatedly urged Government to embark on nationwide public sensitisation campaigns to educate citizens, particularly artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians and broadcasters, about the rights and protections created under the newly ratified treaties.
He encouraged Members of Parliament to use their constituency engagements to popularise the agreements and ensure that creative professionals fully understand the legal protections now available to them.
Concluding his submission, Hon. Lamina called on Members from both sides of the House to unanimously support the ratification of the agreements, describing them as essential instruments for protecting Sierra Leone’s creative talents, promoting innovation and strengthening the country’s intellectual property regime.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Alpha Sesay, Esq., in his closing remarks, acknowledged the valuable contributions made by both the Opposition Leader and the Deputy Leader of Government Business. He noted that their submissions had provided compelling justifications for Parliament’s ratification of the treaties and reaffirmed Government’s commitment to implementing the agreements in the interest of national development.
The seven agreements were laid before Parliament on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice before being ratified by the House.
Agreements Ratified by Parliament
1. Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances (2012).
2. Marrakech Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled (2013).
3. Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
4. Brussels Convention Relating to the Distribution of Programme-Carrying Signals Transmitted by Satellite (1974).
5. Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods.
6. Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of their Phonograms (Geneva, 1971).
7. Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations (1961).
The ratification of these international instruments marks a significant step in modernising Sierra Leone’s intellectual property laws, protecting the rights of creators and innovators, promoting cultural development, and strengthening the country’s compliance with international legal obligations.