The theme for the workshop: “Creating a Stable and Predictable Legal and Regulatory Environment for an Inclusive Digital Society” aims to validate the draft Telecommunication Act of 2019 which started way back in 2013 to regulate the telecommunication industry in the country.
Telecommunications over the years has become very attractive because of the opportunities it provides for unemployed youths.
According to Mr. Sheku, the Telecommunication Law of 2016 yielded lots of development; and though promulgated, there is need to update it for it to meet with the realities of the international telecommunication environment to compete globally.
Mr. Sheku noted that the workshop was also to examine the working document that was prepared by the consultant which will lead to guidelines that are going to be postulated and forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for enactment by Parliament.
Mr. Sheku added that players in the different sectors during the course of their deliberations have given their commitment for the reviewing of the law. He added they want to have a predictable environment that will enable the businesses of the telecomm to grow and ensure that they give the right penalty when lapses occur.
“The essence of it all is to make sure that we try to address impunity so that people will know about the consequence of any action that was done” he said; adding that when reviewed it will make Sierra Leone aspire with other country in the world and that it will also give NATCOM the power to enforce regulations.
According to the Director General of National Telecommunication, Commission Maxwell Massaquoi after the completion and approval of the document by Parliament, it is going to sever as the new law for the telecommunications sector.
Alphonso Manley National Coordinator Civil Rights Coalition commended NATCOM and the Ministry for the new law, adding that it important for all the players to know their roles and responsibility and that they are hoping that the law will be pre-legislative for other people to ask relevant question.
The law according to Alphonso Manley is in line with some of ECOWAS protocol in treating consumers fairly, adding that they submit their recommendation with regards to the issue they have to the Ministry.
