Information Minister promotes transparency and media literacy at Stratcom 2026

Chernor Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, presented a firm and proactive vision for combating misinformation at the start of the 2026 International Strategic Communication Summit (Stratcom Summit) in Istanbul. Speaking to an audience of global leaders, diplomats, and communication experts, Minister Bah emphasised that false narratives pose a global threat capable of eroding public trust and undermining the social contract between governments and their citizens.
Minister Bah’s remarks, broadcast by TRT, AfroTurk TV, and CGTN, left little doubt about Sierra Leone’s position on disinformation. He outlined a multifaceted national strategy centred on transparency, media literacy, and citizen engagement. Key components of Sierra Leone’s strategy, he said, include strengthened partnerships with local media outlets, broad digital literacy campaigns to empower citizens to identify misleading content, and regulatory frameworks to prevent the spread of harmful information online.
Minister Bah placed these domestic measures in a larger international context, emphasising how conflicts far beyond Sierra Leone’s borders can have immediate economic and social consequences at home. He mentioned the ongoing tensions between Israel, the United States, and Iran, noting that, despite being geographically distant from the fighting, Sierra Leone is still feeling the effects through rising fuel prices, higher import costs, and mounting pressures on the cost of living. “Disruptions in global trade and energy markets are affecting businesses, citizens, and government budgets,” he stated, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and strengthening national resilience to external shocks.
The Stratcom 2026 Summit, organised by Turkey’s Presidency Communications Directorate, brought together ministers, communication experts, and technology innovators from all over the world to address the challenges of modern information management. Minister Bah’s participation highlighted Sierra Leone’s growing international profile and demonstrated leadership in promoting credible information, strengthening civic resilience, and combating the negative effects of misinformation.