By Saidu Jalloh

The Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation, Salima monoma Bah, disclosed that the Government of Sierra Leone has invested one hundred and thirty-two million United States dollars (US$132M) in the communication sector in a bid to ensure communication is accessible to the people of Sierra Leone.

She made this statement during the weekly press conference on Tuesday ,21st January 2025.

In her opening statement, madam Bah underscored that government had made significant progress by investing US$ 132 Million Dollars through direct investment in the communication sector. “This is part of their agenda to transform Sierra Leone to digital country,” she said.

Madam Bah added that the government has established partnership with neighbouring Guinea to help improve communications between the two countries. Stating that government is focused on the communications sector because it is essential for economic growth.

“In 2019 the fibre backbone was operating in eight districts which have increased to fourteen districts,” Minister Bah said.

She continued that in 2019 there were seven hundred and ninety eight (798) mobile sites across the country which has increased to one thousand four hundred and five (1,405).

Madam Bah also revealed that mobile subscribers have increased to eighty-nine percent (89%) and internet penetration also increased from thirteen thousand (13,000) to one hundred and ten thousand (110,000).

She expressed that President Bio is the father of digital transmission and that it is under his leadership that progress has been made in the digital space.

Minister Bah spelt out the government commitment in digital transformation in which she stated that the government is committed to prioritize citizens need especially digital because of the modern age they are in now, so it is key for them to transform the country architecture to digital.

She commented that for digital transformation to happen, communication should be the heart of it because no matter what they do, they have to use devices to communicate so that is the reason they are more focused on communication.

She alluded that in National Medium Term Development Plan, the government committed that they would expand in expanding mobile and internet services.

She emphasized that mobile and internet services are basic human rights and that they are working hard to make sure that it wouldn’t become a luxury, and you should not be rich or educated before you have mobile and internet services at your homes.

Minister of Communication said they had to put policies and strategies in place for the things they are planning to do to work better, so they have the National Digital Development Policy and National Broadband Strategy.

Madam Salima Bah noted that they had also received a funding for Universal Access Development Fund which was set by government to expand connectivity in rural areas.

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