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Senior Orange Foreign Executives Hold Fruitful Discussions with NATCOM Management

By Abubakarr Harding

Senior Executives of Orange Sonatel visited NATCOM on the 31st October 2022 and among the delegation were the Deputy CEO and COO of Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA), Brelotte Ba, CEO of SONATEL,  Sekou Drame, Deputy CEO of SONATEL, Fabrice Andre, in addition to other dignitaries of OMEA.

The Director-General of the regulatory authority,  Daniel Kaitibi welcomed the delegation to NATCOM and furthered that he and his team were pleased to listen to them and frankly discuss the purpose of their visit.

 Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO and COO of Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) started by indicating the objective of their visit. In his words, the reason for their visit was to mainly discuss ORANGE and SONATEL’s strategy of development in Africa, Orange’s ambition for Sierra Leone in the area of business and innovation and to provide update on the consolidation, mobilization and enhancement of Orange’s contribution to telecommunications service delivery in Sierra Leone.

Brelotte Ba made mention of the investment Orange Mobil Company is making in a second Data Center in Bo in order to have a redundant connectivity between Freetown and Bo, which will in turn serve the entire country.

In view of the fact that data centers are critical to their work, Orange is working assiduously to have the two centers connected via fiber. He thanked DG Kaitibi for providing the apt leadership for the Commission for creating the enabling environment for them to implement work processes to enhance communication services in the country. He continued to say that Orange is investing to modernizing the network, investing in innovation and training young Sierra Leoneans so that they can adhere to and move positively along with the good deeds of advancements in digitalization and digital technologies.

During the course of the discussions, mention was made of GST liability relating to floor price in data services as stated in the Finance Act, 2022 and customer registration relating to NIN-SIM integration of subscriber sim cards.

The team for Orange Sonatel expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Commission for the open door policy, which exists between them in the discharge of their telecommunications work.

Responding, DG Kaitibi expressed gratitude to the Orange team for taking time out to visit the Commission. He continued to say that his leadership style has always been and will always continue to be, to follow the mandate of the Commission, which is to “foster a progressive and enabling environment for the development of the ICT industry in Sierra Leone.” DG Kaitibi averred that the regulatory processes and procedures are in line with President Bio’s desire to have a digitally inclusive Sierra Leone, which is in harmony with the Medium Term National Development Plan cluster 3.5 (greater efficiency in connectivity service delivery because of the digital divide).

DG Kaitibi concluded by stating that the doors of the Commission will always remain open for discussions and work relating to improvements in communications ecosystem. On the issues raised by the Orange team, he state that he will seek further stakeholder alignment.

 

 

 

Lands Minister Tour Locations in Western Area to Acquire & Secure Land

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Dr. Turad Senesie, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning, on Thursday, November 10 2022, led a high-powered delegation of senior management and technical staff of the ministry to tour various locations in the Western Area Colony on a mission to acquire and secure land for the National Land Bank and to settle outstanding land disputes in that part of the country.

In 6 Mile for example, the Minister and his team swiftly moved to settle the long-drawn 2015 flood victims resettlement issues.

Some 232 family units had been living in deplorable conditions since the previous Government took them to 6 mile and abandoned them in makeshift single-room structures for each family. This set of Sierra Leoneans has been forced to share these single-room units with up to ten family members in some cases.

The verified list of 232 family heads was presented to the Minister on site and Dr. Turad Senesie wasted no time in directing the Director of Lands and Survey to immediately allocate some 25 acres of land to the affected families.

Also, the Minister further took immediate steps to secure the 23 acres of land that the State had allocated to a mission school which had been trespassed by land grabbers. The Ministry’s enforcement team immediately moved to demolish giant pillars erected by land grabbers and asked the school authorities to take full possession of their land and continue with the planned development of a secondary school, boarding home and hospital in line with the free quality education agenda of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

The entire community and its surroundings erupted into celebrations over the prompt and strategic actions of the Minister and his team with women’s groups and pupils singing and dancing with their “savior” for hours.

In 6 Mile also, the police unit deployed there complained to the Minister that land grabbers had dispossessed them of a piece of land that was identified and allocated for the construction of a police station.

The Minister asked the police to make a formal complaint while assuring them that he will not allow any land grabber to get away with trespass on state land.

The team then moved to inspect state land at various locations including Songo, 6 Mile, Garahun, First Step and Maparia.

The Minister was accompanied by his able Deputy Minister, Rev. Abraham Sesay-Jones, and senior management team including the Permanent Secretary and Director of Surveys and Lands.

 

Auditor General’s Suspension & Trial on Snail Pace

Sierra Leone's Auditor General, Lara Taylor-Pearce

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) has on the 11th November, 2022 stated that it is now one year and still counting since Sierra Leone’s Auditor General, Lara Taylor-Pearce and one of her deputies, Tamba Momoh, were suspended from office.

It continued that a Tribunal was set up on the 18th November 2021 to look into the alleged misconduct for which charges were only brought up by the State almost seven (7) months after their suspension.

Members of BAN say they are concerned about the snail pace with which the Tribunal proceedings are unfolding, which has created uncertainty as to when all would end.

The organization furthered that in their previous press statements dated 11th November 2021 and 9th March 2022 on the matter, its members reminded the Government of Sierra Leone not to undermine public accountability, which is fundamental for good governance and development.

According to them, their press statements also appealed to the Government to refrain from actions that would hamper efforts in maintaining fiscal discipline and accountable use of public resources.

It was underscored that over the years, the Auditor-General and team have offered immense support to uncover corruption and mismanagement of public resources.

That, they say, is evident in several Audit reports, which were also utilized in the last Commission of Inquiry adding how it goes to say that the suspended Auditor General and her team have been very committed to their work to ensure effective financial management of public resources.

Members of BAN said they strongly support the statement of IMF in the Article IV Review calling for the financial and operational independence of the Audit Service Sierra Leone to be a priority and the need for timely action to ensure the independence to safeguard confidence in the management of public resources.

They quoted the IMF Article IV Review in which the Government states, “We are also committed to strengthening the ASSL’s independence. We are committed to a time-bound and transparent tribunal for the suspended auditor general and her deputy“.

It was lamented that, however, the public is not aware of any timeline set by the tribunal and they are strongly urging the Government to uphold its commitment made in the Article IV Review by publishing a clear and transparent timeline for the tribunal process.

The members of BAN concluded that while they still hold on to their position for His Excellency the President to reverse such a decision, they are equally very much concerned about the Tribunal’s slow pace, which tends to further derail the audit accountability architecture in Sierra Leone.

About BAN– The Budget Advocacy Network is organized around the three principles of the budget process i.e., Participation, Transparency and Accountability. BAN is composed of local and international organizations such as the Christian Aid (CA), Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Western Area Budget Education Advocacy Network (WABEAN), ActionAid Sierra Leone (AASL), Talking Drum Studio (TDS) and Transparency International Sierra Leone (TISL).

NCRA Train Staff In Readiness For ID Card Roll-Out

By Abubakarr Harding

In the wake of the recent notification by the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) that shortly it will commence issuing Identification Cards, the institution has on the 10th November 2022  in collaboration with Contrast Systems – the company hired to print securitized ID cards trained staff on the Processes and Procedures involved in the production and issuance of securitized ID Cards at Sierra Palms Hotel in the West End of Freetown.

The Sierra Leone House of Parliament on March 22 unanimously ratified the agreement between the NCRA and Constrat Systems SL Limited for the production of securitized ID cards (National and ECOWAS Compliant), ID Verification Systems and Public Key Infrastructure.

It was further stated that NCRA will produce four categories of securitized, digitized and multi-purpose ID cards:

– Sierra Leone National ID Cards (limited to Sierra Leoneans)

– Sierra Leone ECOWAS ID Card (on demand for Sierra Leoneans wishing to travel within ECOWAS member countries consistent with ECOWAS protocol to promote free movement, integration, trade liberalization, etc)

– ECOWAS ID Card (on demand for use within ECOWAS member countries)

– Non-National ID Card (mandatory for all foreign residents in Sierra Leone).

NCRA Director General Mohamed Mubashir MASSAQUOI said that the production and issuance of the ID cards are imminent.

“We want to encourage everybody that professionalism is key in all of this,” he admonished staff at the training, emphasizing the need to avoid corrupt practices. “We will not allow the conduct of one individual or a few people to smear our character and image. We will resist that with appropriate discipline,” he said.

The cards, when launched,shall be mandatory for accessing social services including transactions with Financial Institutions, Immigration Services, Vehicle Registration and Licenses, recruitment into public and private institutions, NASSIT enrolments, Land Property Registration, enrolment into educational institutions including public exams, Sim Card Registration, Business Registration and Incorporation among others, he furthered.

In his PowerPoint presentation, Kassem Jiha, Software Developer at Constrat Systems informed trainees that clients wishing to apply for ID Cards must have registered with the NCRA as a primary requirement for issuance of ID cards.

Jiha emphasized that data processing and storage solely rest in the hands of NCRA. Constrat will depend on NCRA’s data for the printing of ID Cards. He said NCRA and Constrat Systems will identify and established outlets and centres where the ID cards will be applied for and issued.

Marwan Fawaz, IT Manager at Constrat System, said NCRA will adopt an approach which will ease burden of travel on clients applying for the ID cards. Clients applying for ID Cards from outside Freetown for instance, would not need to travel to Freetown to apply or receive their cards but would receive them at the center of application.

According to Fawaz, clients will receive automated messages regarding every stage of the process up to completion and collection of the ID cards. Through the automated messages, clients will be able to know when their cards are ready for collection. Upon collection, a receipt will be issued immediately to mark the end of the process.

According to Fawaz, there will be a thirty-day grace period for which the client would collect their ID cards after which a minimal fee might be levied. He said the process will be transparent as clients will be privileged to access their information before their ID cards are printed. He therefore advised for clients to see their information before request is made.

DG Massaquoi said it has been a long time since Sierra Leone last produced an ID card. He said the ID Cards will have unique security features that cannot be counterfeited, reproduced or manipulated. He said owners will be proud to possess the cards when they are produced because they will meet regional and international standards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Tourist Board GM Portrays Sierra Leone as Peaceful Tourist Destination to WTM Visitors

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Sierra Leone National Tourist Board (NTB) actively participated in the 2022 World Trade Market from the 7th to 9th November, 2022 in London.

General Manager of the Sierra Leone National Tourist Board, Fatmata Mida Carew led the delegation that  represented the country at the annual event.

It must be noted that the World Trade Market in London is the market leading international travel event, unlocking business opportunities for inbound and outbound tourism professionals.

Furthermore, the B2B event allows tourism businesses from around the globe to showcase their brand and exhibit at the show along with the biggest names in the accommodation , hospitality and renowned tourism destinations and attractions, innovative travel technology providers and airlines.

The event helps the NTO and international travel providers to do business with world class travel buyers as well as to showcase their services to the international Press.

During the event, the General Manager of the Sierra Leone National Tourist Board, Fatmata Mida Carew, portrayed Sierra Leone as a peaceful tourist destination to WTM visitors referencing the Global Peace Index (IGP) 2022.

“We have done four peaceful elections and we will soon get the 5th in 2023 as a nation, free of wars and social imbalances,” she stated with pride.

In a session, the NTB General Manager, without prejudices, stated:  “The 2022 GPI highlights Sierra Leone in the second colour category (light Green)  clearly indicating that Sierra Leone is among the most peaceful countries in the world.

She informed that stating that on the 2022 GPI list of 163 countries, Sierra Leone was ranked and  placed  50th position with a score of 1.801, indicating clear  upward mobility progress of 2-step from the 2021 GPI.

To be precise, Ghana and The Gambia were ahead of Sierra Leone in the West Africa Sub-region, with Sierra Leone taking 3rd in the West African sub-region. Absolutely, Sierra Leone is among 90 countries that recorded improvements in peacefulness and acceptance from the 2021 to 2022 GPI assessment and scores.

It must be noted that positions and status were shared with great industrialized and advanced nations like; Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), as the list goes on.

The NTB General Manager reiterated that Peace through tourism refers to a number of data analysis which suggests tourism may contribute to cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and even peace between communities, cities, nations around and Sierra Leone is now taking the bold steps using Tourism for Peace in major destination campaigns.

Her submission to the tourism representatives for Germany, UK, Canada, America and other international tourism stakeholders cleared doubts and ill feelings about Sierra Leone as a touristic destination.

In her conclusion she listed the different tourism projects undertaken so far in a continuous effort to raise the tourism profile and destination image.

She also commended that the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, through the leadership of Dr. Memunatu B. Pratt and the Tourism Directorate, have done massive community engagements and youths empowerment, capacity building and training, as  public/private sector partnerships  are key fundamental factors in advancing a culture of peace through tourism in a post-conflict society as Sierra Leone.

In another development, the Sierra Leone Tourism delegation interfaced with the National Railway Museum in York, England.  Helen Ashby OBE. BA. FMA was one of the longest staff from York National Railway Museum England who received the Sierra Leone’s Tourism delegation from York train station.

In her welcome note, she appreciated the team for endeavoring to honor their invitation to see the monumental Relics of their Railway Museum.

The Iconic National Railway Museum is a museum in York settlement which forms segment of the Science Museum Group.

The official visit helped the delegation to understand the essence of  the museum which tells the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. That historical museum is a domicile for preserving national collection of historically significance, which includes: railway vehicles such as Mallard, Stirling Single, Duchess of Hamilton and a Japanese bullet train.

In addition, the team discovered that the National Railway Museum anchors a diverse collection of other objects and articles that has elementary pieces of the historical touch of fine arts.

Madam Ashby, in the escorted tours, made the team to understand, that the great museum has won many accolades and awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001.

Annmarie Kamara, the Administrative Manager from Monuments and Relics Commission in comparing the National Railway Museum

Freetown, Sierra Leone said after Sierra Leone’s railways shut down in 1974, the same collection of engines and other artifacts spent decades hidden away in this old workshop—now a museum.

“However, we are here to see how these structures been done here could be replicated in the future,” she intimated.

The General Manager National Tourist Board, Mrs. Fatmata Mida  Carew in addition, emphasize the need for healthy collaboration between the York Museum and Sierra Leone Railway Museum stating that she believes heritage and culture will have a place value of sustainability.

Chairman of the National Tourist Board,  Tamba Alliue Kokobaye called on Madam Hellen Ashby to foster the collaboration between York Railway Museum and Sierra Leone National Railway Museum to be Coordinated and directed by the Monuments and Relics Commission.

The visit to York National Railway Museum and York city itself was an eye opener to the team as viewing their key Monuments and Relics gave a clear insight to the team on maintaining heritage and cultural elements.

Gento Assures Worshippers of Freetown Regaining its Past Glory if United

 By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Starting from Upper Brook Street right down to the Kroo Town Road junction Muslims were out in good numbers, colorfully dressed, as they headed for the Hamdallah Mosques on Naimbana Street in Freetown to observe   Friday prayer at Hamdallah Mosque, Naimbana Street on the 11th November 2022 at 1:00 pm.

It did not take long to notice that the huge turnout was large because the news had made the round earlier that the man of the moment, Gento, will be worshipping there on that day. As a result many decided to worship just to get a glimpse of the man of the moment

Lined at the entrance of the Mosque the leadership first heartily welcomed Gento for deciding to worship with them wishing him a fruitful stay as well.

After prayers, Mohamed Gento Kamara, addressed the congregation that as part of their decision to pray with them he wants to respectfully disclose his intention to contest for the Mayoral Seat in the Freetown City Council under the ticket of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). “This is the information that I decided to bring to you in order to solicit your endorsement so that in June 2023 come the General Elections you will give me your unflinching support,” he stated.

Nfa Amara Kallon, the Chief Campaign Strategist for Gento informed the Jammah that it is high time for residents of Freetown to come together, support a young man to make a meaningful transformation of one of the oldest cities in the West African Sub-region. He told the congregation that he is determined to change the face of the city, make it attractive, peaceful and united.

“He is a man who does not believe in tribalism and one of his topmost priorities is to unify all the tribes in the metropolis and to even demonstrate that his first move was to bring together all the Tribal Heads in Freetown and appealed to them not to use tribalism to advance political sentiments,” he revealed.

Nfa added that Gento is a very hardworking man, the brain behind the reconstruction of the Hill Cut Road, the promoter of football who has been very supportive to various football clubs in the country and a philanthropist who has assisted a lot of people and continues to do so.

In response, the Chief Imam and other authorities of the Mosque thanked Gento and his group for coming. They said even before this time

They have heard a lot of good things about him maintaining that they are looking forward to such individuals who have the development of the country at heart. “As long as any individual is ready to bring development we will solidly rally behind that person because if development comes it will benefit all of us and not just the few,” they said.

The highpoint of the event was the offering of special prayers for Mohamed Gento Kamara.

 

 

Magistrate Hadiru Daboh Sentences SLA for Beating Grandmother

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

At the Magistrate Court No. 3 on Ross Road, in Freetown, on the 11th November, 2022, Magistrate Hadiru Daboh sentenced an accused person, Ibrahim Bangura, popular known as SLA, who was standing trial on one count of Assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861, to one year imprisonment for flogging his own grandmother, Mama Rita Bainda.

The particulars of offence revealed that on Tuesday, 31st May, 2022, at No. 58 Wright Street, Wellington, Freetown in the Freetown Judicial District in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone Ibrahim Bangura, assaulted Rita Bainda in a manner thereby occasioning her Actual Bodily Harm

According to Magistrate Hadiru Daboh, “His (accused Ibrahim Bangura) conduct of flogging his grandmother is immoral, thus making it more unlawful to warrant the maximum jail term of one year for the offence as in the Act.”

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant Superintendent of Police J. Bangura.

 

 

 NP-SL Holds a Special Place in the Minds for its Numerous Customers

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd)

By Amin Kef-Ranger

It has been established that NP-Sierra Leone Limited is shedding a ray of hope for Sierra Leonean businesses. It epitomizes that any ambitious group of Sierra Leoneans, with good intensions and initiatives, can make meaningful achievements when they come together and invest solidly.

Today, the company is the leading petroleum marketing company in the sub-region, only because some 35 nationals were shrewd enough to plough their end-of-service benefits into the formation of the company. This example, if emulated by forward-looking and ambitious individuals that make meaningful investment plans will change the development trajectory of this country.

Though NP-SL Ltd is an indigenously owned company, however, its shareholders and Management are not afraid to take risk into venturing into various parts of the country. NP-SL Ltd believes in breaking new grounds and this has been the driving force behind its expansionist drive.

The company’s services that it rolls out are not only limited in the capital city but are replicated nationwide. Everywhere they operate, they offer the same services, effectively providing the qualitative services to its esteemed customers.

To make the purchase of fuel very simple NP-SL Ltd introduced the NP Smart Card, which enables organizations and individuals to purchase fuel at ease without using physical cash. By introducing this latest technology, it avails its customers the convenience in conducting transactions at Filling Stations as long there is credit in their NP Smart Cards.

Established by some 35 Sierra Leoneans years back, NP-SL Ltd has grown to become one of the most successful indigenously owned companies in this country. Because of effective management initiatives, the company is vibrantly operating in Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and The Gambia.
With NP-SL Ltd, Customer Care is always taken paramount as Management ensures that customer satisfaction is prioritized. The company truly deserves commendation in that direction.
With well-motivated members of staff, who know how to efficiently treat customers, NP-SL Ltd has become very endearing to many.
In all the five countries where it is operating, the company always ensures that petroleum products, in terms, of fuel and other lubricants, are available in order to avoid scarcity.

The company has truly made Sierra Leone proud as it continues to fly the Green, White and Blue high in West Africa with the story of how serious minded and ambitious individuals can become successful business entrepreneurs.

 

Chinese Embassy & SISLAA Hold Symposium to Learn Lessons of Chinese Modernization

The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and Sino-Sierra Leone Alumni Association (SISLAA) on 11th November 2022 jointly held a symposium themed: “Enlightenment and Opportunities of Chinese Modernization to Sierra Leone”.

Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy Li Xiaoyong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick, SISLAA President Dr. Alphaeus Koroma, members of SISLAA, and the media attended the event.

Li Xiaoyong pointed out that Chinese modernization is the socialist modernization led by the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), which not only has the common features of modernization of all countries but also has Chinese characteristics. Chinese modernization is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of the combination with material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony with nature, and of peaceful development.

He averred that the essential requirements of Chinese modernization are: upholding the leadership of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, pursuing high-quality development, developing whole-process people’s democracy, enriching people’s cultural lives, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a human community with a shared future, and creating a new form of human advancement.

Mr. Li furthered that China’s development path will provide a new option for the vast number of developing countries including Sierra Leone; China’s opening to the outside world will create new opportunities for African countries; China’s development will further boost China-Sierra Leone cooperation and improve the quality of life of the two peoples; China’s peaceful development will promote the steady and long-term development of China-Sierra Leone friendship.

Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick, Dr. Alphaeus Koroma and members of SISLAA happily recalled their memory of studying in China and congratulated China on the successful convening of the 20th Congress of the CPC National Congress. They said that Sierra Leone can learn so much from Chinese Modernization, including pursuing modernization through a path that suits to one’s own conditions, seeking common prosperity and eradicating poverty, developing based on one’s own efforts and more international cooperation, etc.. The participants vowed to play a more active role in promoting the mutual understanding between Sierra Leone and China.

High Costs of Doing Business Seriously Affecting Operations of Telecommunications Companies

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

As was promised in a recent edition we published, this medium continued thorough investigation aimed at proving the veracity of rumours making the rounds in certain circles that telecommunications services in the country will be shortly disrupted if practical and concrete steps are not taken to address certain burning issues affecting the smooth operations of GSM Companies in the country, various moves were taken.

It is a sad fact that in modern times the global economy is going through tough economic times as standards of living are falling rapidly, especially in developing countries, evident in the escalation of the prices of basic commodities and services. The negative effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on national economies, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War is also having its economic toll on most countries added to bad political governance that continues to plunge the vast majority into abject poverty.

In an attempt to make a radical departure from the past against the backdrop of revamping the economy much emphasis was placed on Direct Foreign Investment with the aim of wooing potential investors into the country that will have positive effects on the economy.

Although to a certain extent the initiative is good, however, certain militating factors are really preventing potential investors from being attracted into the country.

Our investigation proved beyond all reasonable doubts that telecommunications companies operating in the country are currently not finding it all rosy as the costs they are expending on operations have now gone off the roof as compared to what they used to realize in returns.

Telecommunications companies now find themselves in a very tight corner. Based on the costs of production, which have escalated tremendously, these GSM Companies want to make adjustments in data prices in order to regain strong business stamina.

On the contrary, the Government is against any increase in data prices as it wants to demonstrate that it is championing the interest of the masses. Juxtaposing the two now turns the situation into a quagmire.

However,  what cannot be hurriedly swept under the carpet at this material time is the indisputable fact that telecommunications companies are indeed going through very trying times.

It must be noted that since SALCAB folded up and Zoodlabs took over control of the internet there has been improvement in terms of speed. Worthy of note is that at the beginning of 2022, the cost of 1 Gbps data from Zoodlabs was Le 156 Million (Old Leones). Today, it is Le234 Million per Gbps recording 53% increase in the direct cost of internet.

To any right thinking individual, the sharp increase in the price of the internet will invariably not encourage telecommunications service providers to maintain the same old data prices. Even a brilliant kindergarten kid will tell you that the two do not add.

Telecommunications companies are always trying their best to woo as many subscribers to their networks which is why some are even attempting to access hard to reach areas of communities. To address that, they, from time to time have to construct telecommunications sites, towers erected etc. Lamentably, the costs of site construction materials (Steel and Cement) have gone up.

Whilst the cost of cement per bag and steel per ton were Le 65,000 and Le 6,000,000 (Old Leones) in the past, they presently stand at Le. 120,000 and Le. 11,500,000 respectively accounting for 92% increase.

Increase in fuel cost is now the order of the day. Telecommunications companies utilize fuel in large quantities meaning that they have to pay for more fuel.

Fuel price is at Le.25, 000 (Old Leones) against Le. 6,000 per litre 5 years ago when the sector tariff was last reviewed. It recorded a colossal increase of 317%.

From the foregoing, it is indeed imminent that there will come a time when an impasse will set in creating very unpleasant and awkward situations that will affect effective communications.

As for now, the delicacy and seriousness of the unpalatable situation if not handled with tact and good entrepreneurial initiatives the imminent negative effects on telecommunications subscribers but will seriously dent the image of the country.

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