By Sulaiman Jalloh

Dpt. Spk. Hon Ibrahim tawa Conteh

Parliament of Sierra Leone during its sixth sitting of the second session on Thursday, October 31st, 2024 announced the summon of Orange Sierra Leone to explain before the House why they over-charged customers and consumers. The announcement came in the wake of concerns expressed by citizens and users of the Mobile Network Company service over inadequate service delivery including to the Country’s House of legislature.

Making the announcement of the summon, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh who presided over the sitting said orange charges twice the charges of Africell Sierra Leone something he said they should be called to explain. He noted that the House inquired from both Africell and Orange to provide internet for Parliament and that Africell charged 17.5NLe to connect staffers of Parliament and offered to connect Members of Parliament at no cost. For Orange he said, they were charging 50NLe for the same service Africell would provide and after negotiation Orange only agreed on 34NLe something he said is twice the price to Africell.

According to the Law maker, when it comes to transfer commission the House of Legislature should look into it while suggesting a special committee would be set up to invite Orange to explain further. “Honorable Members, we have agreed to set up a six man committee to look into the issue and that committee will comprise the Deputy leader one of government business, chairman for the committee on communication, representative of the PC MP, Leader of the opposition, deputy leader one of the opposition, and one female Member of Parliament” Hon. Tawa announced after consultation with leaders of both sides of the House.

It could be recalled that the National Communication Authority (NatCA) had it on Monday, October 21st, 2024 in a release given the mobile operator a seven day ultimatum to resolve ongoing issues with poor service quality.

Users or consumers of Orange SL have been complaining about poor offline and internet services of the Mobile Network Operator, causing them social and economic disturbances.

Parliament under its leadership has a strong commitment to ensure that people enjoy quality Mobile services and such decisions are obviously welcoming as people believe that it is in the best interest of both customers who should enjoy services they paid for and the Mobile Network Company which desires to retain their customers.