By: Josephine Sesay
The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, has engaged Members of Parliament from the Legislative and Transport Committees to begin the process of ratifying the African Road Safety Charter.
During a meeting held at the Speaker’s Conference Room in Parliament, SLRSA Company Secretary, Abu-Bakarr Sheriff Esq, delivered a detailed presentation on the background and importance of the charter. He highlighted that the African Road Safety Charter was officially adopted at the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa on January 31, 2016.
Sheriff described the Charter as a crucial policy and advocacy instrument aimed at improving road safety across Africa. He said it provides a framework that supports collaboration among AU member states to reduce road crashes and fatalities.
Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Hon. Abdul Maray-Conteh, praised the SLRSA for its effort and expressed support for the ratification. He stated that the document was clearly non-political and straightforward, but emphasized the need for effective implementation after ratification. He encouraged joint efforts between the SLRSA, the private sector, civil society, and other government agencies to ensure its success.
Hon. Daniel Koroma, Deputy opposition Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), also welcomed the initiative, describing it as a laudable venture. He recommended that the SLRSA collaborate with the Emergency Hospital to help establish post-crash care facilities in the country, to better respond to road accidents.
Parliamentary committees raised key concerns about road safety education, public awareness, and the need to popularize the Charter as stated in Article 22. In response, Sheriff reassured lawmakers that public education would be prioritized.
He also noted that once 15 AU member states ratify and deposit the required legal instruments, the Charter will officially enter into force. This will lead to the establishment of the African Road Safety Observatory (AFSO) a regional body that will coordinate data collection, policy development, and technical cooperation on road safety issues across Africa. The Parliament of Sierra Leone is expected to debate and ratify the Charter in the coming weeks.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, June 13TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
