Photographer and aspiring filmmaker Tandra Denisia O’Connor has praised Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, Moses Tiffa Baio, and other officials of the Immigration Department after her passport was processed and money refunded following a complaint she raised on Facebook.
In a Facebook post, O’Connor said she received her passport and refund on 4 September 2026, after publicly sharing allegations of misconduct involving an immigration officer.
According to her account, she had earlier handed money to an immigration officer for the processing of her passport but later discovered that the payment had allegedly not been made for the passport as expected. She said the situation caused her to miss a planned trip and incur additional expenses.
“On the 4th of September, I received my passport and had my money refunded after I made a post here on Facebook about misconduct involving an immigration officer,” she wrote.
O’Connor said that despite the difficulties she experienced, she was grateful for the response from senior immigration officials, particularly Chief Immigration Officer Moses Tiffa Baio.
She said several people had described Baio to her as a “no-nonsense man” working to address problems within the institution.
O’Connor also expressed appreciation to Administrative Director Mr Swarray, an immigration officer identified as Tejan, and other officials whom she said assisted her during the process.
While welcoming the resolution of her case, O’Connor said challenges within the immigration system still need to be addressed. She noted that after sharing her initial experience, several people responded with accounts of their own difficulties involving passport processing.
She called for a more structured payment system that would allow passport applicants to make payments directly through the appropriate finance office and receive official receipts before proceeding to biometric capture and collection.
What is needed is a system that works with structural integrity, transparency, and functionality,” she said.
O’Connor also welcomed the introduction of online passport applications, describing digitalisation as a positive step towards reducing opportunities for misconduct. However, she urged authorities to provide adequate assistance for people who may have difficulty navigating online systems or who have limited literacy.
Reflecting on how her complaint was addressed, she highlighted the role of social media and the wider media in drawing attention to public concerns.
“My message reached the highest authority, and I received a quick response, resulting in my passport being processed and my money being refunded by the Chief Immigration Officer,” she stated.
She encouraged members of the public applying for passports to understand the official procedures, request receipts for payments and raise concerns when something appears irregular.
O’Connor said she has now put the experience behind her and hopes her case can contribute to wider conversations about transparency, accountability and improved service delivery within Sierra Leone’s immigration system.
