The Minister of Communications Technology and Innovation, Madam Salima Monorma Bah, and the Deputy Minister of Communication and Civic Education held an open dialogue with SIERRATEL Sierra Leone Telecommunication network staff and interim management to address ongoing challenges faced by the national telecommunications company.

In her opening remarks, Madam Minister Bah assured the staff that the purpose of the meeting was to listen to their concerns and gather direct information about the issues they face. She emphasized that SIERRATEL is a company owned by Sierra Leoneans, particularly by the government, and it is disheartening to see foreign mobile companies thriving while the national company faces challenges. She encouraged staff to voice their complaints constructively and refrain from attacking individuals responsible for the issues.

Lassana Papa Kamara, a staff representative, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share their concerns. He highlighted that many staff members had endured 13 months without salaries until the Minister took office. He mentioned the struggles of staff members and their families, including children unable to attend school due to financial constraints. Kamara also mentioned the unfortunate loss of some staff members’ lives and the unresolved issue of their benefits.

Another staff representative, Madam Mrs. Vero Kamara, stressed the lack of a positive relationship between the interim management of SIERRATEL and the staff. She mentioned that the management had not initiated any meetings with the staff, leading to misunderstandings and, tragically, the loss of two staff members’ lives.

Mr. Foday Barrie addressed the issue of prioritizing the company’s needs, noting the urgency of the situation. He pointed out that representatives had previously written a complaint letter to President Bio, and although he eventually met with them, no satisfactory solutions were provided.

The final speaker addressed security concerns within the company’s compound, highlighting thefts and the deteriorating network services. He stressed the importance of SIERRATEL’s role as a national mobile telecommunications provider and called for immediate action to restore and improve the network services.

In response, the Minister of Telecommunication expressed gratitude for the speakers and noted the importance of gender equality among the representatives. She acknowledged the issues faced by the company and mentioned her efforts to address them during her days in office.

She assured the staff that paying their salaries was a top priority and outlined a plan to audit the company’s financial status, debts, assets, and liabilities. Additionally, she mentioned the government’s intention to privatize SIERRATEL for its future development.