By Politico staff writer
Sierra Leone has been elected First Vice President of the West Africa Telecommunication Regulators Assembly at the organization’s 20th Annual General Meeting in Bamako. The Director General of the National Telecommunications Authority, NATCA described Sierra Leone’s success as “fantastic” and a “sub-regional recognition of Sierra Leone’s progressive approach to telecommunications regulation”.
Daniel Kaitibie told Politico that “Sierra Leone will do its utmost best in this new role to live up to the expectations of the sub-region, in line with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for the telecommunication industry in Sierra Leone and the sub-region”.
The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly is a platform through which telecoms regulators collaborate to “broaden access to information and communication technology services in the sub-region”. They also promote the adoption of best practices to stimulate investment in telecoms infrastructure and services to connect more people, economies and societies across West Africa.
WATRA believes that “the digital economy has become one of the biggest drivers of economic growth and source of revenue in West Africa. It has enormous potential to contribute even more in boosting productivity and growth and the potential is better fulfilled by making services more affordable to more and more people in the region”.
Politico understands that Sierra Leone stands a good chance of taking over the chairmanship of WATRA in 2024.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (29/03/23)
