By Mabinty M. Kamara
Officials of the Sierra Leone Postal Service (SALPOST) have called on the government of Sierra Leone to invest in the institution in order for it to regain its space in society.
Brima Katta, Managing Director made this call at the government weekly press briefing at the Ministry of Information and Communication ahead of the commemoration of the International Postal Day on 9th October.
According to Mr Katta, as the world is fastly moving and everything going digital, so do the customers’ needs, hence the need for SALPOST to match up to the digital trends. And Katta said this can only be achieved through the necessary support of the government for the institution to function effectively.
The SALPOST boss said the pervasiveness of the internet has transformed the way citizens interact, communicate and do business the world over, noting that customers in all industries are becoming ever more demanding in this age of digital and mobile technology that they want things immediately.
“In this context, the postal service can only mitigate risks and seize opportunities to engage in meaningful and programmatic reforms. We need to reinvent ourselves, embrace digitalization, redefine our value proposition and develop new products and services,” he said, adding: “But most importantly, we require political supports and investment as well as an appropriate regulatory framework for these reform activities, especially as we strive to deliver on our universal obligations for delivery services at affordable cost under the UPU/UN charter,” he stated.
Katta assured that there is much to gain from the proposed transformation, noting that the postal service is an enabler for inclusive development and an essential component for the national economy. He therefore admonished the press to help create the necessary awareness about the services rendered by SALPOST and its relevance and affordability when compared to other postal services.
Katta added that in order to complement the government’s flagship program, the Free Quality Education, and to promote literacy in schools, starting in the year 2020, SALPOST will engage in organizing a National School Letter Writing and Essay competition for school pupils with attractive prices
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