PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CONCLUDES OVERSIGHT

The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Communication Technology and Innovation Chaired by Hon. Boston Munda has on Saturday 29/06/2024 concluded its 3 days oversight visit to various telecommunications sector in the provinces.

The purpose of the Oversight visitation was to evaluate the effectiveness on the broadband and the impact of Mobile Network Accessibility. The Committee assessed the communications infrastructure, offices and the services of NaTCA, UADF and SALPOST in Port Loko, Bo, Kenema and Moyamba Districts respectively.

In his overall statements the Parliamentary Chairperson Hon. Boston Munda commended both Parliament and the Government for supporting the committee to carryout it’s activities as prescribed in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. Hon. Munda higlighted the mandate and work of the committee and went on to say that they were out in filed to have firsthand information on the operational activities of entities that are under their supervising relative; to work mandate, services, compliance to regulations, achievements and challenges.

In Port Loko District, the committee visited the burnt office of SALPOST and convened stakeholders meeting and resolved SALPOST land dispute with the land owner.

In Bo District, the Committee visited the Postal Service and the National Telecommunication Authority respectively.
At the Postal Service ,the Acting Post Master, Mr. Willey Davies explained to the Committee how they received letters from Freetown to Bo District. He explained the process of receipt and dispatch of letters and other items to the four sections of Bo District.
He also highlighted the challenges of the postal service including the distributions of letters and cleaning of the facilities. “We received and dispatch letters within the country”, he said and went on to explained the process of receiving and dispatching letters.

At the National Telecommunication Authority in Bo,the Acting Manager, Engineer Mohamed Kembeh said they do a constant monitoring on the spot checks to MNOs, Internet Service Providers ,Radio and TV stations to check for quality services. He said they also monitored septrum payment and also do community outreach on the education of cyber security.The Head of NaTCA in Bo also noted the delay in accessing Police Permit for call log requests to MNOs for cybercrime investigations.

In terms of challanges, he said they are using their private vehicle to do official actvities of the office and went on to inform the Committee on cyber related arrests. He expressed frustration over the lacks of equipment to monitor the operational activities.

In Kenema Post Office ,the postal delivery staff, Prince Foday explained to Committee that only two retired staff are working in the Postal Service and went on to narrate the deplorable working conditions of the post office.

At the National Telecommunication Authority Kenema also, the Committee was very displeased with the overall management of the activities. The Committee observed that, the Manager Mr. Lamin Lahai was adversely affecting operation.
Similar sentiment were also shared by manger for the lack of monitoring equipments. “Equipment to monitor the operational activities of teclomm is totally absent”.Mr. Lamin reveal.
Mr. Lamin said in the process of monitoring ,they find out that sim cards are sold without the due process of the law.

Both heads of NaTCA in Bo and Kenema presented huge quantities of unregistered sims sold by agents to customers without going through the due process.

Noticeably, the Committee observed that only Qcell had the least amount of confiscated sims. According to the Head in Kenema, Qcell Sim sale agents have more complaints.

In Moyamba District,Yoyema community, the Committee joined the rural telephone project symbolically launched by Orange-SL with the theme “Expanding to the Underserved and Unserved “.
Making his submission on the occasion Hon.Boston Munda expressed gratitude over the initiative and admonished the community to take care of project tower and secure it for the general good.

The Chairman explained the role and functions of MPs relative, to Law- making, Representation and Oversight.He said most of the benefits Sierra Leoneans are getting, is due to passages of positive laws by the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
He called on the Minister to support Universal Access Development Fund (UADF) to implement more project for deprived communities around the country.

Parliamentary and Public Relations Department
Parliament of Sierra Leone
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