Praia, Cabo Verde – September 3, 2025. The Government of Sierra Leone joins regional leaders, policymakers, civil society actors, and international partners at the official opening of the Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, taking place in Praia, Cabo Verde, from September 3-5, 2025.
The opening ceremony that was held at the National Assembly Hall, featured keynote addresses from high-level dignitaries, including Dr. Lourenço LOPES, Assistant Secretary of State to the Prime Minister, Dr Ismaila CEESAY, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, (The Gambia), Sylvie COUDRAY and the Director of the Division for Freedom of Expression, Media Development and Media and Information Literacy. Other speakers include Hon. Daniel O. SANDO, Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs (Liberia), Patricia PORTELA DE SOUZA, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Cape Verde, Hon Ourveena Geereesha, TOPSY-SONOO, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.
The conference brings together over 150 delegates from across the region to address the urgent challenges posed by disinformation, hate speech, and information manipulation in democratic and crisis contexts. It marks a pivotal moment in advancing a harmonised regional framework for information integrity, grounded in human rights, transparency, and inclusive access to public interest data.
Representing Sierra Leone, Mr. Emmanuel Abubakar Benoni Turay, the Acting Director of Government Information Services at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, is expected to deliver an introductory remark on “Nurturing Societal Trust and Safeguarding Information Integrity During Conflict, Crisis, and Elections – Challenges and Strategic Responses in West Africa and the Sahel”.
“This conference is not only a platform for dialogue, it is a call to action. Sierra Leone stands ready to work with regional partners to safeguard the integrity of our information ecosystems and uphold the democratic values that bind our nations together,” said Mr. Turay.
The opening day featured expert panels on emerging technologies, structural threats to information integrity, and the role of media literacy in democratic resilience. Breakout sessions explored proactive data disclosure, regulatory innovation, and the impact of disinformation on social cohesion.
Also present as part of the Sierra Leone delegation is the Chairman of the Right to Access Information Commission, Dr. Ibrahim Sega Shaw.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education commends the Government of Cabo Verde, UNESCO, ECOWAS, and all convening partners for their leadership in organising this landmark event. Sierra Leone looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the validation of the Praia Action Plan and the adoption of the Model Policy for Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Director of GIS
Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Emmanuel.turay@moice.gov.sl | ☎ +232-76-622194