By Forum staff writer
The Office of the former President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, has raised concern over the circulation of false and misleading content on social media platforms, warning the public against statements wrongly attributed to the former head of state.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Office said it has observed the spread of unauthorised messages and commentary claiming to represent the views and position of former President Koroma. According to the Office, these publications are not genuine and do not originate from Mr Koroma or any official channel connected to him.
The Office specifically distanced the former president from content shared by a Facebook page operating under the name “President Koroma Fans Page 2007–2018.” It described the page as unauthorised and misleading, stressing that none of the statements published on it have been issued, approved, or endorsed by Mr Koroma or his Office.
Officials said the continued circulation of such material has the potential to misinform the public, create confusion, and wrongly associate the former president with views he does not hold. They added that this development is particularly concerning given the current political climate and the influence of social media on public opinion.
In response to the situation, the Office confirmed that it has issued a formal cease and desist notice to address the matter. The notice is intended to halt the publication and distribution of content that falsely claims to speak on behalf of the former president.
The Office further urged members of the public to exercise caution when engaging with political content online and to verify information through credible and recognised sources. It advised citizens to disregard any statement or message attributed to Ernest Bai Koroma unless it comes from official and verifiable platforms.
In addition, the Office called on genuine supporters and admirers of the former president to unfollow the offending Facebook page. It said true fans should not lend credibility to platforms that misrepresent Mr Koroma’s views or seek to exploit his name for attention or influence.
The statement reaffirmed that former President Koroma remains committed to responsible public engagement and respects established communication channels. His Office emphasized that any official position or comment from him will always be clearly identified and properly communicated.
The Office concluded by thanking the public for their understanding and cooperation, while reiterating its determination to protect the integrity and reputation of His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma from false representation and misinformation.
