January 20, 2021
By Albert Baron Ansu
Sierra Leone must see the need for technological expansion as a growth maximization opportunity to harness. The truth is that past and present governments have hyped the essence of the globalization imperative in many forms yet the transformative effect on ordinary lives have to be measured against what has been achieved and the gaps that exists.
This point is important because there has always been the tendency to embrace international policy papers to design local blueprints around such but very little to show for it. This is what we see with the slow pace actualization of the technological adaptation that has made marked difference in countries such as Rwanda that share our history reality as countries transitioning from war to peace.
Any discourse around this subject matter must be hooked to the Sierra Leone National ICT Policy that was designed since 2009. The very expansive stakeholder engagement that went into the creation of that document speaks to its centrality on the broad spectrum of state and non-state actors. What this is telling us that there is hardly any sector from health, education, agriculture, tourism, natural resources, and governance. Whatever became of the national ICT Taskforce of over hundred public and private sector groupings that was created? Evidently, we see that the group has not been having any influence in roll out of the core objectives set out in the in the national policy. It is tempting to call it charade if the situation remains the way we see it.
My concern is enunciated in the preamble of the National ICT policy statement. It states: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play a vital role today in facilitating the attainment of development goals of any nation. Over the last few years, many African countries have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by ICTs and have put in place ICT-enabled implementation plans to support their socio-economic development efforts. These country-successes have been made possible due to the combined efforts of all stakeholders and with support from regional and international organizations as well as bilateral partners and the private sector.
How ICT can impact national development is explained in a less technological terminology. This is derived from the sub regional ECOWAS harmonization plan, the Ouagadougou Supplementary Act A/SA1/01/07.
Long before this sub regional initiative was conceived Sierra Leoneans had heard about Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, Vision 2025, and Millennium Development Goals. A reflection on what these development plans have achieved without ICT consideration can reveal extensive unmet targets.
Now, the government of President Julius Maada Bio has unveiled a medium term development plan that is people centered in the sense that it captured over 2000 views from across Sierra Leoneans.
According to the Minister of Development and Economic Planning Dr. Francis Kaikai the Medium Term National Development is made up of eight clusters, drawn from forty three different policy areas. Sector diversifications ranging from basic service delivery areas to good governance have been earmarked.
But technological alignment is somewhat muted here, as if its essence is taken for granted. This is where we will need clarification going down the line, lest the mismatch can catch up with us in ways that will be attributed to our willingness to invest in policy development without making the relevant connections to what had been initiated.
In the country’s broad technological aspirations we have to look at what is obtaining in related fields. The National Telecommunication Commission Act 2006 has an ambitious mandate, “being an Act to establish the National Telecommunications Commission and to provide for the licensing and regulation of telecommunications operators and for the promotion of universal access to basic telecommunication services, fair competition for the benefit of investors in, and the users of telecommunication networks and services, to improve the national, regional and global integration of Sierra Leone in telecommunications and to provide for other related matters…
How fulfilling has this commission being? It is a very difficult question to answer depending on where you stand. This article has no yard stick to measure the efficacy what the commission had achieved over the years. What is predictable is the revenue generation capacity of the entity as one of the cash cows. GSM companies have been and remain very crucial to income drive; and it is less surprising how undue politicization has affected the work of this sector in the protection of public interest in terms of universal access.
Universal access in communication as a human right is weak link in the Sierra Leonean context. Many Sierra Leoneans especially in the rural areas are still victims of the digital divide. The high tariff cost, the challenges with electricity are principal factors for this problem.
The issue of fair competition among the GSM operators namely: Orange, Africell and Q-cell cannot be ignored. It is a controversial question to handle though. It is very likely that one of the GSM companies can have misgivings to make. But they are doing business and Sierra Leoneans can see the mixed blessings their involvement in the socio-economic sphere had rendered over time.
The disgusting situation is the dismal performance of the state owned Sierra Leone Telecommunications, (Sierratel) that is on the brink of collapse until some urgent government over-haul is effected. We have seen how the government is working on that by changing the leadership based on corruption and sleaze. This could be one popular decision for all Sierra Leoneans not happy with the inability of the state-owned communication hub to compete with the private companies.
It is the failing of Sierratel that could have necessitated the establishment of the Sierra Leone Cable, SALCAB that was charged managing the country’s internet gateway. For we recall that it was actually Sierratel under the leadership of Managing Director Alpha Sesay that the ACE Submarine fiber optics cable to enhance internet connectivity was introduced. But what has been the result of that? It is an appalling narrative warranting the debate about privatization.
According to afffrica.com: SALCAB’s situation became worsened in 2018 with a liability of Le9.7Bn as a result of repayment of loans from banks, vendor payment for spare parts and related items which has resulted into a huge exposure of the institution to debt and the possibility of going into administration if government does not inject huge capital to salvage the situation.
Whatever the political suspicions might be, there is an overwhelming desire among Sierra Leoneans to live and feel technology in appreciating the global village attendant benefits. If this is a right then the duty and right bearers must find the right places in the equation and play their roles in all sincerity of purposes.
