By: Mohamed Sahr
With the aim of amplifying the digital age through postal development roadmap, Sierra Leone Postal Service has undergone hybrid reform on postal policy yesterday at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown.
Brima Katta, Managing Director of Sierra Leone Postal Service said the reform targeted major ways for the country to meet international best practices and enhanced a blend of prominent players in the administrative functions of the country. He said the institution of recent developed legal framework that validated the operation of Sierra Leone Postal Service to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as reply instrument.
Director Katta mentioned that the drive force behind the reform focused on providing postal and other services with the aid of digital technology. “We are involving all the stakeholders for us to come together and develop ideas for successful postal services across all MDAs as part of President Bio’s Big Five Agenda,” he said.
Yusuf Keketoma Sandy, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Civic Education extended firm commitment in the postal sector as part of the ministry’s parameters. He said the speedy development in the new information technology affected the postal sector in a number of ways of which dwindled in offering letter based correspondence and postal transaction.
He mentioned that the new communication technology provided an opportunity for the postal sector to enrich quality both customer service and rationalize cost. “The postal sector plays a pivotal role for infrastructure providers as well for the conduct of global business,” he stated.
Keketoma furthered that the sector must undergo major transformation for actualizing a postal sector policy. He said the reform would align with Universal Postal Union Strategy for huge business potential and social values of postal services with other countries.
He revealed that the Post and Courier Bid underwent legal scrutiny at Law Officers Department for finalization; and on the verge for its enactment at Parliament. “This bid will create an enabling legal framework for investment and modernization of the postal services”, Keketoma affirmed.
Graeme Lee, Consultant for Sierra Leone Postal Service said the sector would look at wide number of MDAs involvement as part of the inclusion policy; adding that the collaboration would also provide glaring synergy among stakeholders with the ultimate aim of increasing the service to the remote rural population in the country.
Lee recommended that with the access to integration service and development of the policy, the rebranding as well as social inclusion and financial inclusion would be a walk in the park for Sierra Leone.