Sierra Leone has officially launched a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deepfake Awareness Campaign aimed at equipping citizens with practical knowledge to identify manipulated content and promote the responsible use of emerging technologies.
The campaign, led by the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), with support from the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), was launched on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
The initiative is financed through the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP), with the World Bank serving as a financing partner. The launch brought together representatives from Government, security institutions, the media, technology companies, Civil Society Organizations and other sectors to examine the growing opportunities presented by AI and the risks associated with deepfakes and other forms of manipulated digital content.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, Jasper Sembie, acknowledged the potential of artificial intelligence to transform lives and improve society but highlighted that its risks are already being felt.
Jasper Sembie said hate speech and misinformation can spread rapidly through the internet, leaving people with limited knowledge of AI and Deepfake technology particularly vulnerable to manipulation. He called for stronger collaboration among relevant institutions and stakeholders to address emerging threats, noting that the country’s safety and security depend on collective engagement.
Project Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, Kumba Liliana Musa, said the campaign was designed not only to highlight the opportunities presented by AI, but also to help citizens understand its potential harms and develop practical ways of responding to them.
Kumba Liliana Musa explained that the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project is investing in connectivity, digital skills, cybersecurity and digital public services. She said expanding internet access and bringing more Sierra Leoneans online must be matched by efforts to prepare citizens for the risks they may encounter in the digital environment.
“Verify before you share,” Kumba Liliana Musa urged, describing the message as one of the simplest but most important principles of the campaign.
She stressed, however, that the initiative is not intended to create fear around artificial intelligence, noting that the technology offers tremendous opportunities for Sierra Leone’s development.
Also speaking at the launch, Chief of Staff and Professional Head of the Office of National Security (ONS) Francis Langumba Keili said tackling AI-related threats requires cooperation among Government institutions, media organisations, technology companies, civil society and citizens.
Francis Langumba Keili recognized the potential of AI to support development in areas such as public services, education, healthcare, agriculture, research and productivity. He warned, however, that the technology could also be abused to produce convincing false audio, images, videos and documents.
He expressed particular concern about the implications of deepfakes and synthetic media for election security and national security, especially in view of the country’s vulnerability to misinformation and the rapid spread of false information online.
Francis Langumba Keili called for the establishment of early-warning mechanisms capable of detecting and assessing information threats. He also urged stronger institutional preparedness to verify digital content, protect official accounts, correct false information and coordinate responses to emerging threats.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Technical Director ,Mohamed Jalloh, said artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing how countries govern, economies grow and citizens access information and public services.
Mohamed Jalloh highlighted the potential applications of AI in healthcare, education, agriculture and public services, while noting that Sierra Leone intends to develop the skills, institutions, data and innovation ecosystem necessary for the country to participate meaningfully in the global AI economy.
He cautioned that artificial intelligence is also making existing forms of fraud and impersonation more sophisticated and convincing, including through voice cloning and the creation of synthetic images and videos.
Mohamed Jalloh said the national campaign is ultimately about preserving trust in Government, among citizens and in the information that supports public life.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, said artificial intelligence is “here to stay” and that Sierra Leone must embrace its opportunities while taking practical steps to address the risks it poses to society.
Chernor Bah said the significance of the campaign lies in helping citizens understand how to use AI ethically and recognize information that may have been manipulated. He outlined responsibilities for Government, media institutions and citizens in building a safer and more reliable digital information environment.
The Minister said Government should not only provide digital platforms and public education but should also develop tools that enable citizens to verify information. He disclosed that Government is set to introduce a centralized platform that will serve as a hub for Government press releases, public announcements and appointments.
“Government should create the tool for citizens to check and verify information,” Chernor Bah said, while also calling for the establishment of policies to guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
He urged individual media institutions to develop internal AI and Deepfake verification policies to strengthen accuracy and accountability in news reporting.
For citizens, Chernor Bah said responsible digital citizenship requires individuals to verify information encountered online before accepting or sharing it.
The national AI and Deepfake Awareness Campaign is therefore expected to strengthen public understanding of artificial intelligence, improve digital resilience and promote responsible use of technology. The initiative places emphasis on practical verification, public awareness and coordinated action among Government, security institutions, the media, technology stakeholders and citizens to address the growing threat of AI-enabled misinformation and digital manipulation.
