By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
The Government of Sierra Leone has pledged to strengthen the enforcement of its tobacco laws and protect public health policies from interference by the tobacco industry.
The commitment was made on August 1, 2026, during the Africa Tobacco Interference Monitoring, ATIM, Training in Lagos, Nigeria. Representing Sierra Leone were the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rado Swaray, along with civil society leaders Ibrahim Mansaray of the Centre for Advocacy and Sustainable Empowerment, CASE Salone, and Alhaji Yaya Swaray of Youth in Action for Development, Democracy and Human Rights, YADDHR-SL.
The meeting, convened with members of the Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research, focused on strategies for African countries to defend tobacco control measures under Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The article requires governments to guard policy-making from the commercial interests of the tobacco industry.
Minister Swaray said Sierra Leone has made legislative progress with the enactment of the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Act in 2022. He admitted, however, that enforcement remains a challenge and assured that government will engage Cabinet and relevant institutions to address the gaps.
Facilitator of the training, Professor O. Ayo Yusuf, a tobacco control expert, cautioned that the tobacco industry continues to undermine health policies through tactics such as promoting illicit trade claims and contesting evidence-based measures including taxation, advertising restrictions, and stronger regulations.
Minister Swaray commended Mr. Mansaray and Mr. Swaray for representing the country at the continental forum and for their sustained advocacy in advancing tobacco control and safeguarding public health.
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