In a bid to repair its battered image, the SLPP Government has resolved to hire a U.S. based media firm known as Mercury Public affairs to provide public relations, government relations and media outreach for the Government of Sierra Leone.
This information was made known to the general public through a public notice issued by the U.S. media firm, Mercury Public affairs, who announced that they have been approached by the Government of Sierra Leone and that they are currently negotiating a comprehensive partnership. The American Firm also said that Six staffers will represent Sierra Leone including ex-congressman Tony Moffeet, who once co-chaired Mayer Brown’s Africa practice, Bryan Lanza, who was communications director for the Trump transition and Eric Bloom, former senior producer for the CBS Evening news.
According to sources, a senior official in the Vice President office, Baba B Fortune, is in constant engagement with the U.S PR firm to see how they could provide public relations and outreach for the Government of SierraLeone. Information is that the Government of SierraLeone is set to release a colossal amount of money to enter into that contract with the American Media Firm at all cost.
Confirming the accuracy of the report, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has said that the Government of Sierra Leone is in advanced talks with several PR and lobbying institutions, but said that has nothing to do with the elections, but rather to leverage SierraLeone Position as UN Security member. Contrary to rumors of financial transactions, Minister Bah said no money has exchanged hands, but the Government is simply engaging these institutions.
However, this decision of the Government has raised serious eyebrows and has left many citizens scratching their heads in the face of excruciating hardship.
Many are describing the decision as a misplaced priority and called on the Government to focus on development instead of image management which could not help to win international accolade in a short term. “The focus of the Government should be the basic needs of the people instead of image laundering”, a like-minded SierraLeoneans revealed, and called on the SLPP government to reconsider and channel all resources towards eradicating poverty, fostering transparency and building a brighter future for all SierraLeoneans.
Since after the june 24 elections, President Bio Government is facing a serious legitimacy crisis as concerns have been expressed by the international community over the credibility of the elections. The U.S Government, European Union have raised grave concerns about the irregularities surrounded the elections and called on the Government to heal the wounds by doing the needful and engage in peaceful dialogue to restore democracy in Sierra Leone.
