Freetown, August 4, 2026 — The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, on Tuesday raised a serious alarm over the sharp increase in financial fraud linked mainly to the Orange mobile network and demanded urgent action from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Technology.
Speaker Thomas told the House that scammers appear more comfortable operating on the Orange network and called on the Minister to present a clear explanation and a concrete remedial plan to stop the menace.
Responding, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Technology Salima Bah confirmed that cyber-enabled financial fraud is growing rapidly across Sierra Leone.
She said criminals are increasingly impersonating ministers, Members of Parliament and other public figures to defraud citizens.
According to the Minister, fraudsters create fake WhatsApp and social media accounts using the names and photographs of prominent people. They solicit money, offer non-existent jobs, promote fraudulent investments or pressure people into making urgent transfers. Other common schemes include fake customer-care agents, bogus promotions, phishing links, fraudulent mobile-money requests and messages claiming a family member is in emergency need of cash.
Minister Bah noted that the problem is not unique to Sierra Leone. Similar cases of WhatsApp hijacking and impersonation have been reported in Ghana, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States.
She said government has adopted three clear objectives: educate and empower citizens to recognise scams, strengthen consumer-protection systems, and improve investigation and enforcement so that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Central to the plan, she explained, is public awareness. Working with the National Communications Authority (NaTCA), the National Cyber Security Coordinating Centre and mobile network operators, the Ministry has rolled out nationwide radio, television, newspaper, social-media and community campaigns. Operators have also launched “pause and verify” messages urging customers not to share passwords or send money solely on the basis of a WhatsApp message.
“No technological solution can eliminate fraud if citizens are unaware,” the Minister stressed, urging Sierra Leoneans to verify every request before acting.
Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo called for urgent and coordinated action, warning that the crime is threatening the financial stability of ordinary Sierra Leoneans and eroding public trust.
He said the problem affects citizens at every level and placed responsibility on mobile operators to strengthen user protection. Sharing a personal experience of a suspicious money request, Hon. Kargbo urged Parliament to put in place modern mechanisms to prevent fraud and ensure accountability.
He pledged the opposition’s readiness to work with government and commended the Speaker for taking the issue seriously.
Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business Hon. Matthew Nyuma demanded immediate oversight hearings with regulators and mobile operators. He said citizens are “suffering from hackers” and have lost faith in digital financial services.
He called on Parliament to compel the institutions concerned to explain the measures currently in place and how victims can be refunded.
He also advocated “personality-based investigations” to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
Opposition Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara asked mobile network operators to strengthen safeguards and improve accountability in mobile-money services.
He raised concerns about unclaimed mobile-money balances and the absence of a clear mechanism for families to access funds when an account holder dies. He further called for better taxation of digital transactions and an update on network stabilisation efforts, including the solarisation of towers.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Innovation and Technology, Hon. Boston Munda, informed the House that the Committee had completed an oversight tour across the country and conducted radio programmes to gather public views on poor mobile network service. He said an oversight report would be presented shortly.
Director-General of the National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA), Amara Briwa, said the Authority will begin a new phase of SIM-card registration next week, accompanied by a public sensitisation campaign.
He acknowledged challenges with SIM costs and said discussions are ongoing with the National Revenue Authority and operators to reduce prices. On network quality, he revealed that NaTCA is conducting drive tests and issuing directives to operators, with fines applied where problems persist.
He cited Orange’s recent power challenges as an example. Mr Briwa confirmed that NaTCA has assisted in the arrest of fraudsters who are handed over to the police for prosecution, and assured the House that the Authority will intensify its efforts.
Several other Members of Parliament also expressed concern about poor network service and mobile-money scams.
The House resolved to task the Chairman of the Committee on Communications, Innovation and Technology to follow up on the matter, investigate thoroughly and submit a detailed report to Parliament within one month.
