Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas Esq., has urged Sierra Leoneans to refrain from using social media platforms to tarnish the country’s image for political gain.
Speaking on Monday during the opening of the Presidential Debate in Parliament, following President Julius Maada Bio’s State Opening address, Speaker Thomas cautioned against the growing trend of citizens spreading damaging content about Sierra Leone online.
“People call for investors, tourists, and development, yet they spread harmful content online that works against national progress,” he noted.
The Speaker stressed that challenges such as crime exist in every country, including advanced nations like the United States, but Sierra Leone often faces harsher criticism—sometimes from its own citizens.
He accused some politicians of fueling this negativity through social media, warning that such actions undermine national development efforts.
Drawing from his recent experience in Ghana, Speaker Thomas highlighted how authorities there act swiftly to limit the circulation of harmful online content in order to safeguard the country’s public image.
He urged Sierra Leoneans to take a more patriotic approach and be cautious about what they post online.
He further warned that false or exaggerated stories, once shared, spread rapidly and can erode investor confidence, scare away tourists, and derail development programs.
His remarks come at a time when social media has become a dominant space for political debate and news dissemination, making the call for responsible online engagement more pressing than ever.
