By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Director-General of Sierra Leone’s National Communications Authority (NatCA), Mr. Amara Brewah, has reaffirmed the country’s strong commitment to advancing digital integration across West Africa. Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Regional Roaming Conference held in Monrovia- Liberia, Mr. Brewah emphasized the importance of cross-border connectivity in empowering citizens and boosting regional development.
The conference, held under the theme “Connecting Nations, Empowering Citizens,” brought together telecom regulators, mobile network operators, policymakers, and development partners from across the sub-region. Two major milestones were celebrated during the event: the official launch of seamless roaming services between Sierra Leone and Liberia, and the signing of a bilateral roaming Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire.
In his address, Mr. Brewah hailed the developments as a testament to the region’s progress in building a unified digital space. He recalled the signing of a landmark MoU between Liberia’s Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and Sierra Leone’s NatCA on January 31, 2025 in Freetown, describing such as a critical moment in the region’s journey toward digital transformation.
Mr. Brewah also acknowledged prior engagements with The Gambia’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which helped pave the way for current achievements. “These collaborations reflect our shared vision for regional economic, social, and digital progress,” he said.
The NatCA Director-General underscored the continued importance of the 2017 ECOWAS Roaming Regulation, which provides a framework for regional alignment, consumer protection, and the delivery of affordable communication services across member states. “Roaming is not just a technical capability—it is a driver of inclusion and empowerment,” he said, noting how cross-border roaming enhances mobility, education, trade, and emergency response.
He further praised the collaborative role played by mobile network operators from both Sierra Leone and Liberia in making seamless roaming a reality. These include Lone Star MTN, LTC, Orange Liberia, Africell, Orange Sierra Leone, and Qcell. Mr. Brewah commended their efforts in achieving technical readiness, harmonizing pricing, and preparing subscribers for the rollout. “Without your partnership, this milestone would have remained only an aspiration on paper,” he stated.
Liberia’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Sekou Kromah, also addressed the conference, reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to regional cooperation and digital integration. Alongside the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, he presided over the signing of a ground-breaking MoU to establish a framework for free roaming between regional countries.
Clarence K. Massaquoi, Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, described the upcoming launch of roaming services between Liberia and Sierra Leone as a transformative milestone. He emphasized the socio-economic significance of the agreement, stating that it reflects the growing unity between the citizens of both countries and will allow people to communicate, trade, and travel with ease.
Mr. Massaquoi also announced the upcoming signing of an ECOWAS Free Roaming MoU with Côte d’Ivoire. He described the event as the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral digital cooperation that will strengthen regional cohesion and connectivity.
The Sierra Leonean delegation to the conference included several senior officials from NatCA: Mr. Amara Brewah, Director-General; Mr. Braima Ronnie Kargbo, Director of Administration and Human Resources; Mr. Musa Jalloh, Deputy Director of Regulatory Administration and ECOWAS Roaming Focal Point; Mr. Shaka Sasha Essa, Senior Manager of Fraud and Deputy ECOWAS Roaming Focal Point; Ms. Mamawah Kaikai, Manager of Policy and Government Relations; and Ms. Janneh Johnson, General Services Officer in the Administration and Human Resources Department.
As the region celebrates these breakthroughs, the momentum towards a digitally connected West Africa continues to grow, with Sierra Leone playing a key role in shaping the future of cross-border communications.
