Parliament Passes National Records and Archives Bill 2026
Parliament has passed the National Records and Archives Bill, 2026, establishing a new legal framework for the management, preservation and accessibility of public records in Sierra Leone.
The Bill, presented by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, seeks to repeal and replace the Public Archives Act of 1965.
During the Second Reading, Minister Bah highlighted the importance of proper records management in preserving national history, safeguarding citizens’ rights and strengthening public administration.
He explained that the legislation establishes standards for the creation, storage, preservation and disposal of official records across government institutions.
The Bill also provides for the establishment of the National Records and Archives Directorate within the Ministry of Information and Civic Education to oversee records management across public institutions. It further proposes the creation of records centres in the country’s administrative regions.
Other provisions cover the management of electronic records, public access to archival materials, subject to legal restrictions, and the issuance of authenticated copies of official documents.
During the parliamentary debate, Members raised concerns about the Directorate’s authority, the digitisation of existing records, its supervision and the proposed repeal of the 1965 Act.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Bah said the Directorate had already been established following a review of the Ministry’s structure and Cabinet approval. He added that the proposed legislation would provide the legal authority needed to coordinate and standardise records management across government institutions.
On digitisation, he said the legislation would complement existing government initiatives by establishing common standards for managing and preserving electronic records.
The Minister also informed Parliament that the Records Management and Archives Policy was approved by Cabinet in August 2025, launched by the President in December 2025 and published in the Government Gazette on October 26, 2026.
Following deliberations at the Committee Stage, during which amendments were made, the Bill was read for the third time and passed by Parliament.
The legislation is expected to strengthen the preservation of official documents, improve access to public records and establish a more coordinated system for managing Sierra Leone’s institutional history.
Comments