Key issues discussed include governments and mobile operator perspectives, priorities, and approaches to fraud and abuse prevention in the mobile sector, exploring how policy decisions impact the future of the cities and their citizens, the future of taxation for the digital citizen, the mobile money leadership forum alongside an Innovation showcase and network initiatives among others.

In her contribution to the conference, Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara noted that this conference might not have come at a better time when Sierra Leone is making tremendous strides to catch up with the rest of the world in digital transformation. She explained that the Government of Sierra Leone is conscious of where they are on ICT in the global stage which is why President Bio prioritized ICT in both the New Direction Manifesto, and the Medium Term National Development Agenda 2019-2023. ‘Catching up with the rest of the world in the digital revolution requires us to leapfrog or take a giant leap, which is why as part of government’s commitment to ICT the President established for the first time, a Directorate of Science and Technology, at State House, to advise him on ICT related matters’ she added. The Deputy Minister informed the conference that the Ministry of Information and Communications that is charged with supervising all ICT and Telecoms related activities is in the process of reviewing the 2006 Telecoms Act to speak to emerging trends in the sector.

The Ministry she furthered is also reviewing the National ICT policy to create an all-inclusive policy framework for Sierra Leone’s participation in the global digital economy.

“ICT is the mainstay of our government and we are ready and willing to collaborate with countries that have made progress in the ICT and Telecom sectors for the benefit of our citizens she concluded.