By Sulaiman Jalloh
The Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation on Thursday, August 29th, 2024, at the ongoing 2025 budget hearing at the Ministry of Finance, proposed a budget of Twenty-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Five Leones (NLe28,884,805m) for the 2025 fiscal year.
Giving a breakdown of the said amount, Communication Minister Salima Monorma Bah said her ministry needs NLe11,153,100 for general admin and support service; NLe3,360,875 for the directorate of communication; NLe3,495,000 for the directorate of policy, planning, research and compliance; NLe1,380,000 for the directorate of technology; NLe2,850,000 for the directorate of innovation; NLe5,070,830 for Felei TechCity; and NLe1,575,000 for annual international membership subscription.
According to the Minister, in 2023, her Ministry was able to implement a framework on cyber security strategy, policy and cyber security and crime act; implement the framework for the national digital government plan to increase digital services; promote the public investment ICT infrastructure through UDAF; and implement business model using the deployed national fiber backbone to enhance broadband access across the country.
He added that, in 2023, the Communication Ministry was able to validate data usage strategy.
“From January to July 2024, the ministry migrated more than 50 MDAs to optical fiber broadband. We conducted the inaugural international Tech and Innovation Summit,” Minister Bah explained.
She highlighted inadequate working tools and equipment and inadequate office space among major challenges.
Minister Monorma Bah said key deliverables for 2025 include to develop two bills: the digital government bill and the startup bill; establish an innovation fund, hold a tech summit, among others.
Explaining revenue generation streams, Minister Bah said her ministry works with different partners and sector players to generate funds for the government, including revenue generated by NaTCA from fees levied on mobile network operators in the country.