Claim: A viral Facebook post claims that China has invested US$5 million in Sierra Leone’s Government Printing Press. It alleges that China will operate the facility for years to recover its investment, and that all government documents will be under China’s control.
Verdict: Misleading. While it is true that a Chinese company, Diming Yimo Printing Company, has entered into a US$5 million partnership to modernise Sierra Leone’s Government Printing Department, there is no evidence that China will permanently own the facility or control Sierra Leone’s official government documents.
Full Text
A popular opposition supporter of the All People’s Congress Party, Tunde Scott, recently shared on Facebook that, “China will literally own our government printing press. The Chinese invested $5,000,000 for the renovation and will be running the facility for many years to get their cash back. All government documents will be in the hands of China.”
As of June 3, 2026, the post has gained 451 Likes, 208 comments, and 1 share.
The post generated significant discussion on social media, with some users expressing concerns about national sovereignty, data security, and foreign influence over government operations. Whilst others commended the government for such a venture. The post also appeared on another Facebook profile.
This check was prompted by the claim’s quick circulation and intense public engagement, needing an investigation to clarify the true context and prevent misinformation from distorting public opinion or exacerbating political misunderstandings.
Verification
Our investigation found that the US$5 million agreement referenced in the post is genuine and has been widely reported by several news organisations and official government platforms.
Reports published by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Sierraloaded, A-Z Newspaper, Gleaner Newspaper, Africa Press, and SLAJ iVerify all confirmed that the Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah signed a US$5 million agreement with China’s Diming Yimo Printing Company to modernise Sierra Leone’s Government Printing Department.
The agreement was signed during an official visit to Beijing in July 2025 and aims to digitise and modernise the Government Printing Department, introduce modern equipment, train local staff, and establish a printing training institute.
Further, DUBAWA contacted the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, regarding concerns raised by the viral post. He clarified that the arrangement is a joint venture between the Government of Sierra Leone and China’s Diming Yimo Printing Company, structured to run for ten years and jointly managed by both parties during the life of the agreement.
The arrangement allows the government to receive 30 per cent of revenue while the Chinese partner receives 70 per cent during the venture period. Full ownership and benefits will be transferred back to the Government of Sierra Leone at the end of the ten-year arrangement.
“It’s a printing joint venture. Co-managed by the government and the Chinese Diming Yimo company. All security and state documents will remain managed by the official government printer, Salone staff and crew. The Chinese are co-managing the commercial enterprise, which is in their interest.”
The available evidence supports the existence of a Chinese-funded modernisation project and confirms the involvement of Diming Yimo Printing Company in the management and operation of the printing facility. However, there is no publicly available evidence suggesting that ownership of the Government Printing Department has been permanently transferred to China.
Similarly, there is no evidence supporting the claim that all government documents will be controlled by China. According to the Minister’s clarification, security documents, official state records, and other sensitive government materials will continue to be managed by Sierra Leonean government personnel. The Chinese company’s involvement relates primarily to the commercial operation and modernisation of the printing enterprise.
Conclusion
The viral claim that China will own Sierra Leone’s Government Printing Press and control all government documents is misleading.
Evidence confirms that a US$5 million modernisation agreement exists between the Government of Sierra Leone and China’s Diming Yimo Printing Company. However, official statements and media reports indicate that the project is a ten-year joint venture with shared management, revenue-sharing provisions, and an eventual transfer of full ownership to the Government of Sierra Leone.
There is also no evidence that China will control sensitive government records or official state documents.
This report was produced under the 2026 Kwame Karikari Fact-checking and OSINT Fellowship, co-hosted by DUBAWA and the Digital Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Information Disorder Analysis Centre (DAIDAC), with support from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).