By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
In a world already plagued with misinformation and manipulation by the elite, it is sad, though not surprising, that one of the most trusted financial publications, Forbes Africa Magazine, has allowed itself to be used as a tool of deception, ignoring the lived realities of millions in Sierra Leone. Their April/May 2025 edition is not just a misrepresentation; it is a betrayal of journalistic integrity and a slap in the face to the struggling people of Sierra Leone.
With all the glossy pages and self-congratulatory narratives, this edition of Forbes Africa gives undue spotlight to institutions and individuals who have done very little to change the conditions of the country, many of whom are virtually unknown to the very people they are supposedly uplifting. In essence, Forbes Africa has allowed its global platform to be hijacked by individuals and entities whose only achievement is in their proximity to power and their ability to paint a misleading image of success and prosperity.
Let us be clear: Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest nations in the world. Any attempt to dress up this bitter truth as a success story is not only dishonest but harmful. While Forbes Africa chose to focus on the so-called achievements of local billionaires and companies, the average Sierra Leonean still struggles to afford one decent meal a day. Hospitals lack medicine, schools are barely functioning, roads are death traps, and unemployment continues to rise like the morning sun.
Even more outrageous is the mention of OCTÉA/KOIDU HOLDINGS LIMITED, a mining company that, for years, has been at the heart of economic exploitation in the diamond-rich region of Kono. Till date, this company pays a laughable $200,000 per year in rent to the government, while it takes out billions of dollars in precious minerals. What is more damning is that these figures are not hidden, they are public knowledge. The government has done little to renegotiate these shameful deals, and now, to make matters worse, they are being celebrated in international magazines as agents of development.
Development? For whom? Certainly not the people of Kono, and other mining areas in the country, who live amidst the dust, the open pits, and the contaminated water left behind by the mining giants. These communities remain among the poorest in the country despite sitting atop unimaginable mineral wealth. There are no modern hospitals in these areas, no proper schools, and not even a guarantee of clean drinking water. But Forbes Africa saw something worth celebrating? It baffles the mind.
Let us not even get started on the other names mentioned, individuals with no public track record of service, corporate social responsibility, or community development. Many of them are known only within government circles or elite business gatherings. The average market woman in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, or Makeni has never heard of them, and more importantly, has never benefited from anything they claim to have done. If these individuals are the face of Sierra Leone’s economic transformation, then it is a transformation that has completely bypassed the people.
So, we must ask: what did Forbes Africa see that the rest of us do not? What metrics did they use? Whose stories did they verify? Or was this simply a paid PR stunt by the government of Sierra Leone to whitewash its failures and promote a false image of progress?
It is becoming increasingly evident that this was not journalism, it was propaganda, dressed in a fancy suit and perfume. It is hard to believe that a reputable platform like Forbes Africa could not see through the façade. But then again, when powerful interests are at play, even the best institutions become tools of manipulation.
The government of Sierra Leone has been on an aggressive campaign to rebrand its image abroad, especially as criticism mounts at home. International trips, photo ops, and now glossy magazine features have become the new strategy to cover up the harsh realities on the ground. But the people are not fooled. Sierra Leoneans are suffering in every conceivable way, poverty, unemployment, bad governance, lack of basic services, and no amount of media rebranding can erase these truths.
What Forbes Africa has done is dangerous. It sends the wrong message to the international community, to donors, investors, and even to development partners. It gives a false sense of stability and growth, potentially redirecting aid and investment away from the people who truly need it. It also emboldens corrupt leaders and exploitative corporations to continue their destructive practices, knowing they can always count on favorable press coverage to polish their image.
We the people of Sierra Leone must speak out. We cannot allow foreign media to define our reality from the comfort of air-conditioned offices thousands of miles away. We live here. We feel the pinch every day. We see our children go to school hungry. We watch our mothers die during childbirth due to poor medical facilities. We walk on broken roads, pray for electricity, and endure unthinkable hardship. And now, we must also endure the insult of being told that all is well because a few businessmen and companies are thriving.
No. Enough is enough. We call on Forbes Africa Magazine to retract this edition and issue a public apology to the people of Sierra Leone. You have a responsibility to tell the truth, not half-truths, not state-sponsored fantasy, but the raw and honest reality of the people. We do not ask for pity. We ask for fairness. We ask for accuracy. We ask that you speak to us before writing about us.
Interview the teachers who go months without pay. Talk to the nurses working without gloves or basic supplies. Visit the mining towns and see the environmental destruction. Speak with the youth who spend their days idle, jobless, and hopeless. That is the Sierra Leone we know, and it is far from the paradise painted in your latest edition.
The international community should also take note. Do not be fooled by PR campaigns and glossy magazines. If you want to know the state of Sierra Leone, talk to its people, not just the privileged few. Support grassroots organizations, empower local voices, and demand accountability from those who claim to lead.
To those Sierra Leoneans who were featured in the magazine, this is your opportunity to prove us wrong. Step up. Show us the communities you have built, the hospitals you have sponsored, the youth you have employed. If you truly care about this country, now is the time to demonstrate your impact, not with empty speeches, but with visible, measurable action.
Forbes Africa’s April/May 2025 edition may have succeeded in polishing a few egos and promoting a false narrative, but it has also awakened a new resolve among Sierra Leoneans. We will not be silenced. We will not be misrepresented. And we will not allow our pain to be masked by propaganda.
Let the truth be told. Let the world know that Sierra Leone is still struggling, and the struggle is real.
Alpha Amadu Jalloh is the author of “Monopoly of Happiness: Unveiling Sierra Leone’s Imbalance.” He writes about social justice, governance, and the future of Africa’s youth
