By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The General Management of Orange SL Ltd in a Press Release dated 5th February, 2023 stated that it wishes to inform the general public that the article circulated on various social media platforms with Caption, “Rogue Orange (SL) in big financial Crisis with Government” is misleading.
It further clarified that the allegations that “Orange Sierra Leone is indebted to the Government in the sum of Le 80 billion inclusive of Le14.0 Billion Leones owed on custom duty taxes and further accusations that it is not the first time Orange Sierra Leone has been on shady tax deals on Government tax payments”, are totally unfounded.
The company categorically denied the misleading information, which, it said, aims to tarnish its reputation and that such a damaging article contrasts with the values of transparency and responsible corporate citizenship to which the Orange group is particularly attached.
Management maintains that Orange Sierra Leone is a compliant company that has always demonstrated transparency in its corporate commitments to the Government and all other regulatory authorities.
The company revealed how in 2022, the total tax paid by Orange Sierra Leone and its subsidiaries amounted to NLe 285 Million and have never defaulted on any of their tax obligations to the Government.
According to the company, they remain one of the largest taxpayers in the country, contributing significantly to the economic development of Sierra Leone.
In setting the record straight, Management disclosed how the letter dated 31st January 2023 addressed to Orange Sierra Leone from the Ministry of Finance was in relation to a request for a monthly payment plan to settle their Annual and Regulatory fees for the year 2023.
The Management went further to disclose that over the years, settlement of Annual Regulatory fees via a payment plan has been the common practice between the regulators and all mobile network operators in Sierra Leone.
Orange Sierra Leone is reassuring the public and its valued customers that it remains an internationally reputable company that operates with the highest ethical standards and that such malicious information is considered as defamatory.
The company added how it remains committed towards providing their valued Customers with superior network quality through an enhanced world class system for an unmatched experience.
