The Parliament of Sierra Leone has launched Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 under the theme, “Securing Sierra Leone’s Digital Future: A National Call to Cyber Resilience.”
The launch took place on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at Committee Room One, Parliament Building, with calls for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, the private sector and technology users to tackle growing cyber threats.
Director of ICT, Joseph Conteh, warned about the increasing threat of online scams, particularly WhatsApp account takeovers. He explained that criminals can gain access to accounts and impersonate users to solicit money from their contacts.
Conteh urged the public to protect their accounts and personal information and warned against sharing passwords, PINs and authentication codes with suspicious individuals.
Giving the keynote address on behalf of the Clerk of Parliament, Deputy Clerk Gilbert Bosco Nhabay said cybersecurity was becoming increasingly important as more activities, including banking, education, communication and government services, move online.
He disclosed that Members of Parliament and senior parliamentary staff had recently been targeted by WhatsApp takeover scams.
“If it can happen in Parliament, it can happen anywhere,” Nhabay said, stressing that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.
He said Parliament’s cybersecurity efforts would focus on Partnership, Protection and Progress, while calling for greater cooperation among government institutions, regulators, security agencies, telecommunications companies, financial institutions, civil society and the media.
Parliament also announced a 2026–2028 Cybersecurity Capacity Building Programme. The first phase will focus on awareness and staff training, while subsequent phases will address cybersecurity policy, governance, technical capacity and stronger threat detection systems.
The Deputy Clerk also announced “The Cyber Law, Explained for Kids,” an initiative aimed at simplifying the 58 sections of the Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021, to help children understand their rights and responsibilities online.
Head of the Cybersecurity Unit, Mohamed Lebbie, said activities during the month will include practical cybersecurity training and an inter-departmental cyber competition.
A panel discussion on “Responding to Rising Cybercrime: Building a Resilient Digital Sierra Leone” also brought together representatives from the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, National Communications Authority, Sierra Leone Police Cybercrime Unit and Parliament.
The speakers emphasised the need for greater public awareness, institutional cooperation and effective enforcement of cybersecurity laws.
The programme marks the beginning of a month-long campaign aimed at promoting safer online practices and strengthening cybersecurity awareness within Parliament and across Sierra Leone.
