By Morlai Sesay
The Minister of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, has revealed that the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone is poised to increase 25% of rural connectivity in which the primary focus this year would be accessibility, infrastructure, affordability, and quality services by bridging the digital disparities in Sierra Leone.
As the government of President Julius Maada Bio remains focused on key development drives that will enable transformation in both rural and urban areas, 25% of rural connectivity in communication is a laudable venture that would give local communities access to more efficient communication networks across the country.
In her interview, Minister Bah highlighted the importance of communication in those areas and how it will help bridge communication gaps and improve access to information about government services for people in remote communities.
She added that her ministry would be rolling out systems and platforms to monitor the services provided by mobile operators, stressing that there is an ongoing concern around the quality of service delivered to citizens; hence, they deserve to get value for money from mobile operators. " We will also review policies on the monitoring and service providers' necessity of Telecommunications operators to customers," she assured.
In terms of technology, Salima noted that another key priority for her ministry this year would be to target integration, where they would be creating a centralized, coordinated base in which Sierra Leoneans would be gifted with the opportunity, if they click on any Ministry, they would be able to get whatever services that are available at a go rather than searching all over the place to look for them.
She further updated that her ministry would be developing new digital e-government services where they would be targeting around five specific sectors in which agriculture is going to be a priority area.
Touching digital innovation skills, she affirmed that the Ministry is committed to training 5000 people and 5000 public sector workers in various digital skills. She asserted that this is essential because you cannot do digital transformation and the people whom you are working with do not have knowledge about technology and the skills set to be able to operate them, emphasizing that the pointers are tangible things that the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation would be embarking on in the shortest time possible this year.
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