Madam Pratt was addressing journalists at a recent briefing held in the Ministry of Information and Communication conference room.

She went on to inform the press that she recently participated in the first African Union Ministerial Sub-Committee on Tourism held in France, where she came across Miss Sierra Leone France, who informed her that negative posts on social media is seriously hampering her and her fellow Sierra Leoneans’ efforts to grow in the Diaspora. She informed journalists that the Miss Sierra Leone complained that whenever they approach investors the latter often reject coming to Sierra Leone because of the negative things they see about the country that is posted on the web and on social media.

“Miss Sierra Leone France, asked me to deliver a message to all Sierra Leoneans on her behalf that negative posts on social media, on the website and on other media outlets about the country is also affecting them negatively in the countries they live,” Madam Pratt said.

The Minister said that Miss Sierra Leone also complained that whenever they perform in other countries, investors and other personalities are always curious to know about their home country, but that whenever these people visit the website they encounter negative things about the country.

She went on to say however that in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communication, they have designed an attractive and robust website with a mobile application for the Ministry of Tourism to effectively disseminate positive information about the country for the benefit of tourists, investors among others.