By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, I must begin with an apology for raising a sensitive topic that might cause some discomfort. However, I believe it is important for us to discuss it openly and honestly. As a proud citizen committed to the well-being of this nation, I feel compelled to address the troubling situation surrounding the activities of your wife, Mrs. Fatima Bio, on social media. With all due respect, Mr. President, what I have seen and heard suggests that she may be sowing discord and deceit, and if left unchecked, this could harm not only the image of your administration but also the unity we aspire to maintain as a nation.
Mr. President, I am aware that you might find this concern surprising or even amusing, especially if you trust that your wife’s activities in the digital space are harmless. But let us consider the evidence: countless social media posts and online exchanges are orchestrated with the apparent objective of vilifying critics, intimidating dissenting voices, and spreading misinformation. In a political climate where dialogue is often fragile, the injection of personal feuds and manipulative narratives can stoke animosity among citizens.
It is one thing for any public figure to have loyal supporters who share their ideas; it is another to mobilize a coordinated campaign that makes personal attacks the norm rather than the exception. We have grown all too familiar with profiles that spew half-truths, create confusion, and even incite violence, profiles connected, directly or indirectly, to individuals who appear beholden to your wife. Such tactics suggest a wider strategy of influence, using modern tools of digital communication to amplify unverified stories and squelch differing perspectives. At this juncture, Mr. President, I must ask whether you are fully aware of these developments or whether your own trust is being taken advantage of.
Mr. President, it is no secret that certain bloggers have long been influential in Sierra Leone’s media and political spheres. However, it seems that their alliance with Mrs. Fatima Bio has changed the dynamic of the discourse. Some observers note that some of these bloggers may have gone from being a strong, independent voice to people who appear firmly in the First Lady’s camp, “in her pocket,” as many critics put it.
This transformation is not necessarily shocking in political circles, where alliances shift frequently. But in a context where the First Lady is allegedly on a mission to control the narrative by “getting every blogger into her locker,” these bloggers’ association strategic capabilities and media network become an especially powerful weapon. If bloggers are indeed orchestrating campaigns of misinformation or defamation at the behest of your wife, it threatens our national interest. One might argue that freedom of association grants Mrs. Bio the liberty to befriend and collaborate with whomever she desires. However, when this partnership translates into a formidable propaganda machine, it raises urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and the direction of public discourse.
Another name that has repeatedly cropped up in conversation is Mr. Joseph Sannoh, whose credibility is widely questioned. Rumor has it that he is one of the key operatives feeding Mrs. Bio with endless praises and, perhaps, a steady stream of misinformation regarding those who refuse to toe her line. Such figures, if their intentions are indeed dubious, do nothing but corrode the trust citizens should have in the First Family.
Part of the power of democracy rests in respectful disagreements and lively debate. When a person like Mr. Sannoh, with questionable motivations, becomes a gatekeeper of information to the First Lady, the natural conclusion for many critics is that the entire arrangement stifles constructive dialogue. Instead of being a forum for the honest exchange of ideas, it becomes an echo chamber of self-serving flattery. Mr. President, I urge you to reevaluate the counsel your wife might be receiving. Governance must be guided by credible intelligence and balanced viewpoints, not by sycophancy.
Mr. President, the grapevine is buzzing with talk of your wife’s political aspirations, and many say she is preparing the ground for a potential future where she might be a running mate to Sierra Leone’s “prodigal son” in some upcoming political arrangement. Ambition is not inherently bad, and striving for leadership can be commendable if driven by a genuine desire to serve. However, it is disconcerting that in her purported drive to form an “association of bloggers,” only those who sing her praises or at least echo her sentiments are being embraced.
Blogging, as an important form of citizen journalism, requires at least some grounding in ethics, critical thinking, and a commitment to factual accuracy. Yet, the individuals allegedly chosen to appear to have little or no professional background in actual news gathering or balanced reporting. Instead, their roles often involve maligning innocent people, perpetuating half-truths, and engaging in a “proxy war” on behalf of the First Lady. If this is indeed part of her political groundwork, then we should be concerned about the tone it sets for future leadership in our country.
Mr. President, let me shift to a positive note. I must congratulate your Labor Minister, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, for addressing a long-standing issue that has plagued our country: the proliferation of fictitious travel and job agencies. Many Sierra Leoneans, particularly our young men and women, have fallen victim to these unscrupulous entities. Drawn by promises of lucrative employment abroad, they often find themselves in precarious circumstances, especially in the Middle East, where reports of abuse abound.
By moving to cancel the licenses of these shady operations, the government shows that it can stand up for vulnerable citizens. For years, Sierra Leoneans, especially our sisters, have been subject to exploitation, physical and emotional abuse, wage theft, and worse. The harrowing story of the young woman in Lebanon who was refused medical support at a public hospital serves as a painful reminder. She did not die because of war but due to systematic neglect that can be traced to exploitative employment arrangements. If her story teaches us anything, it is that our people need protection and active government advocacy wherever they go.
Most Sierra Leoneans who leave for the Middle East or other regions do so in the hope of providing for their families. They risk separation from loved ones and endure considerable hardship, only to end up in exploitative situations that deprive them of basic rights. Stories of domestic workers being physically abused, sexually assaulted, and denied medical care are not unique to Lebanon; they span Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
In one of the most heartrending cases, a pregnant Sierra Leonean woman reportedly died after being denied medical support, yet there has been little accountability. Tragically, her pregnancy was said to have been the result of rape by her employer’s husband, and no one intervened. This level of indifference from supposedly regulated agencies is appalling. Mr. President, it is incumbent upon your administration to ensure that protective mechanisms exist so that what happened to her never happens again.
Mr. President, while the decision to cancel unlicensed job agencies is commendable, a more structured approach is needed. The government must enter into formal agreements with destination countries, similar to what other African nations have done. Senegal has an agreement with Spain that allows Senegalese citizens to travel there for seasonal work with minimal hassle. Guinea, Ghana, and Kenya are also exploring or have established frameworks to protect their nationals abroad.
Such agreements outline worker protections, employer responsibilities, wage standards, and legal recourses in cases of abuse. These frameworks provide channels through which governments can hold foreign employers accountable. They also limit the manipulative power of middlemen, thereby reducing financial exploitation. Mr. President, Sierra Leone has a proud history of bilateral diplomacy. This is the moment to extend that tradition to safeguard the welfare of our migrant labourers.
For inspiration, we need only look to the experiences of countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan. In the past, their citizens suffered severely in the Middle East due to poor regulatory oversight. However, once these governments took concrete action by signing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with host countries, setting up labor attachés in embassies, enforcing contract regulations, and creating programs to reintegrate returning workers, the conditions for their citizens gradually improved.
Mr. President, in some cases, governments have introduced mandatory training programs for prospective migrant workers, teaching them about local laws, cultural norms, and their own legal rights. Others have established hotlines, shelter homes, and legal services in cooperation with local NGOs to assist workers who run into trouble abroad. If Sierra Leone were to adopt similar measures, we could drastically reduce the vulnerabilities our citizens face.
Mr. President, the desperation that drives our youth to migrate, often via perilous routes across the Sahara and the Mediterranean, cannot be divorced from the country’s broader economic challenges. While diplomatic agreements can mitigate exploitation, the root causes lie in limited opportunities at home. If your administration invests in skill development, microfinance schemes for startups, infrastructure projects, and agricultural modernization, many young people might choose to remain in Sierra Leone rather than risk their lives abroad.
Moreover, diaspora engagement could be more systematically utilized. Sierra Leoneans who have succeeded overseas could be encouraged to invest back home, share skills, and create employment avenues. This multi-faceted approach involves not only the Ministry of Labor but also the ministries responsible for education, youth affairs, and finance. In short, we need a holistic national development plan that addresses both local aspirations and the realities of the global labor market.
Mr. President, I say these words not to attack but to appeal to your sense of leadership. On one hand, it is essential to curb the disquieting developments in our online environment, particularly where they involve sowing discord, spreading half-truths, and maligning citizens. If Mrs. Fatima Bio and her associates continue to misuse social media as a personal battleground, it risks tarnishing your administration’s legacy. On the other hand, the positive steps taken by your Labor Minister point to a path of responsible governance that can tangibly improve the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
You have the opportunity to amplify such progress by forging bilateral agreements, strengthening diaspora relations, and rigorously overseeing any agencies involved in sending our people.
abroad. Just as importantly, you can demonstrate the importance of credible and ethical communication by encouraging transparency and fostering an environment where civil discourse thrives, rather than showing distrust.
Mr. President, the stakes are high. The future of our young men and women, those who look to you for leadership and hope, is shaped by how effectively you regulate foreign employment, how carefully you manage the tone of political discourse, and how vigilantly you keep your own house in order. Sierra Leone deserves leadership that places the welfare of its citizens above personal or partisan ambitions. Let us hope that, in our next conversation, we can celebrate more advances for Sierra Leone rather than lament the influence of discord and deceit.
Until then, may we strive for open dialogue, honest governance, and a renewed commitment to uplifting every Sierra Leonean. Thank you for taking the time to hear me out, Mr. President. We can only pray that our words are taken in the spirit of constructive guidance, a hope for a Sierra Leone that grows in unity, opportunity, and respect for all.
