Miatta Civic Centre, Brookfields, Freetown, Tuesday, 10 November 2026 – President Dr Julius Maada Bio has officially launched Sierra Leone’s Online Business Registration System (OBRS), reaffirming his Government’s commitment to making business registration simpler, faster and more accessible to entrepreneurs and investors across the country.
Speaking at the launch under the theme, “From Commitment to Delivery: Making Business Easier for Every Sierra Leonean,” President Bio said starting a business should not be a test of patience, personal connections or proximity to Freetown, but rather a straightforward process accessible to every citizen with the determination to succeed.
The President described the launch as another milestone in the country’s efforts to build an economy where enterprise is encouraged, investment is welcomed and opportunities are accessible to all. He said the new system represented a practical commitment to making government work better by opening doors to business opportunities rather than creating obstacles for entrepreneurs.
President Bio recalled the reforms his Government had pursued to strengthen institutions, improve the business environment and position Sierra Leone as a more competitive investment destination. He identified the establishment of the National Investment Board in 2022 as an important part of that commitment, while recognising the Vice President’s role in advancing a more coordinated and accountable institutional framework for business development and investment.
“The true measure of government is not the number of reforms we announce, but the difference those reforms make in people’s lives,” the President stated.
He disclosed that, under the new system, complete business registration applications that meet the legal requirements would be processed within 24 hours, while related registration services would be delivered within seven days.
According to President Bio, the reform would reduce delays and costs while providing entrepreneurs with greater certainty and investors with more predictable procedures and confidence in public institutions. More importantly, he said, it would allow Sierra Leoneans to spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time building businesses, creating jobs and contributing to the national economy.
The President emphasised that the reform went beyond business registration, describing it as an effort to unlock the productive potential of Sierra Leoneans. Linking the initiative to his Government’s Big Five Game Changers, particularly Feed Salone and the commitment to youth employment, he said easier registration would support farmers, cooperatives, women entrepreneurs, young innovators and growing enterprises to formalise their operations, access finance, attract investment and reach wider markets.
On digital transformation, President Bio said technology must deliver more than convenience; it must improve transparency, strengthen public confidence and ensure that government services are accessible to everyone.
“No entrepreneur should have to pay an unofficial fee, seek personal connections or offer favours to obtain a public service to which they are legally entitled,” he said, adding that no Sierra Leonean should be excluded from the reform because of where they live or their level of digital literacy.
The Executive Director of the National Investment Board, Dr Edward Hinga Sandy, described the launch as an important step towards making business registration easier and faster in Sierra Leone. He said the system would address existing bottlenecks while providing an avenue for improved revenue mobilisation.
Dr Sandy also highlighted the benefits for businesses outside Freetown, noting that the online platform would enable enterprises in the provinces to access business registration services more easily.
He further disclosed that the Board had updated previously held documents and files into the new system, addressing concerns about missing records and ensuring improved document management. He assured the public that the system would provide more transparent and interactive services.
The launch of the Online Business Registration System marks another step in the Government’s broader digital transformation and business environment reform agenda, aimed at reducing administrative barriers, supporting enterprise development and expanding economic opportunities across Sierra Leone.
