By Joseph Momoh, Reporter, Daily Scope
Praia, Cabo Verde – September 5, 2025
Sierra Leone has joined forces with over 20 West African and Sahelian nations to address the escalating challenges of disinformation, hate speech, and information manipulation. This commitment was solidified during the Regional Conference on Information Integrity, held in Praia, Cabo Verde, from September 3 to 5, 2025.
The Sierra Leonean delegation, led by Emmanuel Abubakar Benoni Turay, Acting Director of Government Information Services at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), and Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Chairman and Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), engaged in high-level discussions alongside ministers, media regulators, civil society leaders, and representatives from digital platforms.
In his keynote address during the session on “Safeguarding Information Integrity During Conflict, Crisis, and Elections,” Turay emphasized Sierra Leone’s commitment to democratic values through transparent communication and responsible media practices.
“Sierra Leone firmly believes that access to credible information is essential for democracy and peace,” Turay stated. “We are proud to contribute to regional efforts that promote transparency, accountability, and human rights in the digital age.”
Turay also highlighted the country’s advancements in media reforms, including the establishment of a government fact-checking unit and alignment of national strategies with the Model Policy for Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, which was officially adopted at the conference.
The three-day event included sessions focused on media literacy, emerging technologies, regulatory innovation, and the integrity of electoral information—topics of increasing importance as the region navigates a complex digital landscape.
A significant outcome of the conference was the endorsement of the Praia Action Plan, a framework aimed at fostering regional cooperation, strengthening institutional capacity, and securing sustainable investments in information integrity initiatives. Sierra Leone played a crucial role in shaping this action plan, underlining its commitment to multilateral dialogue and coordinated responses to pressing challenges.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education expressed gratitude to the Government of Cabo Verde, UNESCO, ECOWAS, and other partners for organizing this timely and transformative conference. It reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s dedication to implementing the conference outcomes and promoting inclusive, multi-stakeholder approaches to combat digital misinformation and hate speech.
As the information landscape across West Africa faces increasing threats from manipulation and online harms, Sierra Leone’s proactive participation in this conference underscores its determination to protect the integrity of public discourse and uphold democratic values throughout the region.
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