By Sheku Putka Kamara
Sierra Leone recently hosted the 21st Annual General Meeting of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) in Freetown.
WATRA operates with national telecommunications authorities in 16 member states in West Africa to promote the adoption of regulations that stimulate investment in telecommunication innovation, deliver affordable communication services to citizens, enable faster and secure economic transactions, and facilitate wider and easier access to public services. Together, WATRA seeks to improve the telecommunication sector regulation for economic transformation and social development of all communities in West Africa.
Established in November 2002, with headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, WATRA has become an important regional organization within the African and global telecommunications ecosystem; and it will, as always, continue to play strategic roles in shaping the regulation of the telecoms sector in the sub region.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation, Madam Salima Bah noted that WATRA seeks to ensure that West African countries collaborate and become proactive in leveraging the digital economy’s advantages and emerge as key players in the global digital world. She furthered that it seeks to build synergy and collaboration within the West African region for greater impact across Africa and the world generally.
She stated that it goes without saying the need for increased broadband penetration and facilitate digital education. There is a need, she went on, for the West African sub-region to leverage its vast population with a view to positioning and boosting the West African digital economy. She furthered that the need for West African countries to explore their strength and weaknesses to drive efficient and productive collaboration for a sustainable digital economy remains key.
The minister further disclosed that Digital Public Infrastructure which is the responsibility of everybody to build not just governments and various challenges faced by each country towards the attainment of digital economy formed part of the conference. The need to share knowledge and learn from varying experiences was also positive strides by each participating country.
She maintained that the desire to close the skills gap in telecommunications and the digital economy of West African countries is an imperative for WATRA to deliberate during the conference. The upscaling of telecommunications and digital skills among West African citizens, she said, remained crucial to the conference.
“It is safer to state that such reforms are very commendable and yes, we look forward to their fullest implementation just so that they would be reflective of what is happening on the ground because and yes, we cannot overstate the power and ability of quality information and communication,” the minister averred.
The Director General of the National Communications Authority (NaTCA), Amara Brewah was appointed as Chairman of WATRA.
According to Mr Amara Brewah, playing host to this auspicious occasion at this time plays into the hands of the Authority as it instigates the much-needed reforms at NaTCA.
The Managing Director further disclosed that last year a digital conference was held in Abuja, Nigeria where positioning West Africa’s Digital Economy for the future was centre stage and this year’s WATRA conference in Freetown will therefore deepen that.
MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER
The April edition of our Expo Magazine, as always, gives an in-depth reportage of issues and happenings across Sierra Leone with a particular focus on trending issues. We took a bold step to shine a light on the ravaging effects of the addictive drug, Kush and the recent interventions by government, especially the presidency, to end its sale and consumption in the country. The implications of the said substance have been far-reaching and as a trusted, credible and development-oriented media outlet, focusing on such progressive agenda and to shed light on how some of such societal vices could be minimized, if not eradicated, is one of our topmost priorities.
In politics, we expressed a solid opinion on why the campaign to succeed President Julius Maada Bio is not timely and that same is very premature. We insist that the focus of the Bio government should be on delivering its Big Five Game Changers. No distraction!
We covered issues of youth employment and why government should do more plus the need for graduates to become more job creators than job seekers.
In sports, we looked into the tragic incidence that involved the Ports Authority Football Club. We called for more road safety measures while strengthening better insurance policies etc. And in entertainment, we looked into the need to improve standards in music and comedy specifically.
Other thrilling articles on education, governance etc. are all captured in this rich and solid magazine. Book your copy now to avoid any disappointment!
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Magazine on Monday, April 19th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
