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The Sierra Leone government has officially responded to public outcry over viral photographs showing broken windows at State House, clarifying that the damage is the result of a past fire and that comprehensive repairs are actively in progress.
State House Communications Director Myk Berewa addressed the controversy directly, attributing the state of the building to a previous fire and assuring the public that the nation’s seat of power is not being neglected.
“Following the tragic inferno at State House, a significant restoration effort is underway,” Berewa wrote. “Recent visitors to the state house can affirm the extensive renovations occurring within. We will never turn our backs on the foremost office of our land.”
The clarification comes on the heels of a social media firestorm that erupted during Sierra Leone’s 65th Independence Day anniversary. Images of dilapidated window frames and shattered glass at the official office and residence of President Julius Maada Bio circulated widely, prompting sharp criticism from citizens, political commentators, and opposition figures.
Critics seized on the photographs as a symbol of governance failure. Political activist and former presidential candidate Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray launched a scathing attack, accusing the President of prioritizing personal properties over the maintenance of State House. Similarly, the Facebook page “The Mighty APC” called the condition “shameful,” arguing it reflected the current state of the nation.
Berewa’s statement validates the skepticism expressed by some social media users who had urged caution when the photos first surfaced.
While outrage dominated the online discourse, a user named Lahai Samba had correctly hypothesized the true nature of the damage, writing: “This picture might have been taken when the state house caught fire… I heard the state house was under renovation!!”
With the official confirmation of the restoration efforts, State House officials hope to quell the controversy that briefly overshadowed the recent independence celebrations, shifting the focus back to the ongoing rebuilding of the historic structure.
