Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation

04/09/2026

The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation strengthens partnership with UN on digital transformation‼️

Today, the Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Madam Salima Bah today met with the United Nations in Sierra Leone , Madam Seraphine Wakana, UNDP in Sierra Leone and UNFPA Sierra Leone to discuss data governance and digital infrastructure. The meeting focused on addressing data fragmentation across government institutions and building capacity in data management and cybersecurity.

The Minister and team walked the UN team through the Government Data Centre at NatCA Tower and outlined the ministry’s plans for a redundancy site at State House. The Ministry is developing a comprehensive Data Governance Framework to establish how government data is classified, shared and used across institutions.

With the Minister at the helm, Sierra Leone is making significant strides in enhancing its digital infrastructure, from establishing the Government Data Centre to advancing the Digital Government Bill, while also focusing on equipping civil servants with essential skills in emerging technologies.

This work positions the country to use data more effectively for better decision-making and service delivery across all government institutions.

04/09/2026

Congratulations to Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), on this proud moment for our nation.

The First Lady Fatima Maada Bio is on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly presenting a draft resolution calling for the establishment of an International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.

This places Sierra Leone at the forefront of a global movement to protect the rights, health, and futures of girls everywhere, a powerful statement of the country's commitment to ending harmful practices and championing gender equality on the world stage.

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02/09/2026

MoCTI and SLDTP Bring Stakeholders Together on Last-Mile Broadband‼️

Today in Freetown, Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation and Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project hosted a Stakeholder Workshop on the Last Mile Connectivity Feasibility Study that falls under Component 1.2 of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, bringing government, telecoms, and development partners together to discuss how broadband actually reaches public institutions across the country.

Last-mile connectivity refers to the final stretch of infrastructure that connects communities and institutions to reliable internet. It is the difference between a nation having backbone infrastructure and citizens actually being able to access it. This work is integrated with the Government Wide Area Network (GWAN) and Government Local Area Network (GLAN) to create a cohesive, rather than disconnected, national connectivity environment.

The objective of this initiative is to establish a technically viable, financially sustainable approach to connecting public institutions, schools, health centres, and government offices across Sierra Leone. This study will inform procurement, implementation, and investment decisions for nationwide digital access.

Here are today’s highlights in images.
https://mocti.gov.sl/
Learn more about the SLDTP project here👉🏽https://sldtp.gov.sl/

01/09/2026

Stakeholders meet on mobile money fraud

By Alpha Abu

Key stakeholders from various sectors are engaged in a two-day validation exercise in Freetown, aimed at addressing the rising mobile money fraud and related online scams facing the country.

Organised by the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation in partnership with the National Communications Authority (NatCA ) , Mobile Network Operators and Financial Institutions , the event being held at NatCa’s auditorium, has drawn other actors including parliamentarians, civil society activists and personnel from the security sector.

Various speakers at the start of the validation exercise , yesterday August 18, 2026, underscored the seriousness of mobile money fraud in particular, and the need for a more robust and collective approach to tackle the problem.

Officials from the Bank of Sierra Leone, Parliamentary Oversight Committee, and civil society, highlighted the need for a citizen-centred national response to the menace, coupled with increased public awareness on its prevention.

It was acknowledged that no single institution would be able to tackle the problem alone. They said money transaction monitoring should be enhanced, information-sharing strengthened, and the freezing and recovering of fraudulent funds, initiated.

They also called for a particular institution to be fully assigned with the overriding responsibility of handling the problem, as it shouldn’t be generic.

Minister of Communication, Salima Bah, in addressing the gathering spoke of how scamming has evolved over the years to now include online theft. She stressed the need for people to not only detect internet fraud but to swiftly warn others about its dangers.

She said her ministry is working with partners for a comprehensive review of systems to help combat such criminality by enhancing preventive measures, and ensuring stronger and effective redress mechanisms wherein victims would have perpetrators prosecuted, and handed severe penalties by the courts.

NatCA Director-General Amara Brewah in his brief statement stressed the significance of the deliberations that address mobile money fraud.

The Director-General of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), David Borbor in his address welcomed the initiative to face mobile money fraudsters head-on.

“This workshop is both timely and necessary; it brings together institutions that collectively bear responsibility for protecting our citizens, preserving trust in our digital economy, and safeguarding the integrity of our financial system’’, he said.

Borbor pointed out that mobile money fraud is no longer a telecommunication Issue but one that requires whole of government, and societal response.

He said: ‘’Over recent months, the FIA has observed an increase in reports involving the compromise of Whatsapp and other messaging accounts. Criminals gain access to personal accounts, impersonate trusted individuals, request financial assistance. and deceive victims into transferring funds through mobile money platform’’.

He noted that in many of these cases ,the ill-gotten proceeds are rapidly transferred to multiple accounts and then withdrawn through agent networks.

He said responding to the scam requires a triangular approach that involves deterring access to the personal account of people, detect and zero-in on suspected criminal networks, and destroy these criminals networks and initiating prosecutorial actions against them.

The consultative workshop on the development and validation a national Programme to combat mobile money crime, ends today.

28/08/2026

Felei Community Solvathon opens in Kroo Bay, focuses on community-driven innovation

The Felei Community Solvathon: Kroo Bay Edition has opened with a simple but important first step, listening to the community.

The Solvathon brings together innovators, technical experts and residents of Kroo Bay to co-design practical solutions to local waste challenges as part of a pilot initiative.

The programme is supported by the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project and delivered by Felei in partnership with the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation.

Speaking at the opening, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Bah, emphasised that innovation does not always have to be high-tech. She noted that some of the most effective innovations can be simple, practical ideas that directly respond to challenges faced by communities.

On day one, innovators engaged residents to better understand how waste is handled, reused and transformed into value within Kroo Bay.

The teams focused on key waste streams including organic waste, plastics, metals and textiles, combining technical expertise with local knowledge and lived experiences.

Felei TechCity CEO, David E. Manley, also praised the young innovators participating in the Solvathon, highlighting the creativity and innovative ideas already emerging from the initiative.

“This is co-design, not consultation”, with the goal of building solutions with the community, not simply for the community, while developing approaches that can be practical, scalable and sustainable.

Tomorrow, the teams will move from listening to co-designing, turning the insights gathered from residents into solutions shaped by and with the people of Kroo Bay.

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27/08/2026

Kroo Bay Residents and Innovators Design Solutions to Turn Waste into Value‼️

More than 70 residents from all nine residential zones in Kroo Bay and 20 selected innovators are working together to develop practical solutions to waste management and flooding, while exploring new livelihood opportunities from waste.

The Kroo Bay Resilience and Circular Waste Innovation Pilot undertaken by the Felei TechCity with the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation with support from the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, is bringing communities and innovators together to solve a challenge that continues to affect Kroo Bay.

Day One focused on listening. Residents, including community members who have lived in Kroo Bay for more than 30 years, shared their experiences and helped identify the challenges that need to be addressed.

Today, the focus shifted from understanding the problem to designing solutions. Four teams are developing approaches that include specialised waste collection and recycling, plastic recycling and skills development, connecting households to recyclers and upcyclers, and an Eco Kiosk where residents can exchange recyclable materials for incentives.

The objective is to move beyond periodic clean-up exercises and develop practical ways for waste to be
separated, collected, recycled and turned into value, with residents playing an active role in the process.

The solutions developed through the Solvathon will be refined towards pilot implementation, demonstrating how community-led innovation can turn local challenges into practical solutions and economic opportunities.

27/08/2026

26/08/2026

Sierra Leone Moves to Protect the Digital Systems Powering Energy, Health, Education and Defence, as Part of the National Digital Transformation Agenda‼️

Sierra Leone is going digital and fast. Power grids, hospital records, school examination systems, and national security communications increasingly run on interconnected digital infrastructure. This has made public services faster and more efficient, but it has also created a new kind of vulnerability. When a system goes down today, whether through cyberattack, error, or simple power failure, the service stops immediately.
This is precisely why the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021 designates critical national information infrastructure communications, banking, utilities, and emergency services as requiring mandatory protection.

To address this, the National Cyber Security Coordination Centre (NC3), and the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation with support from the World Bank through the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project and technical support from KPMG, has developed draft Sector-Specific Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) Protection Plans for four priority sectors, Energy, Health, Education, and Defence and Security. These plans were presented for stakeholder validation at a workshop held on 26th August 2026 at the NatCA Tower, South Ridge, IMATT.

Full story here👉🏽 https://mocti.gov.sl/sierra-leone-moves-to-protect-the-digital-systems-powering-energy-health-education-and-defence-as-part-of-the-national-digital-transformation-agenda/

21/08/2026

World Entrepreneurship Day 2026‼️
Today we celebrate the entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners driving Sierra Leone's economy forward.

This year, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation has had the privilege of convening these builders across multiple engagements. We have brought entrepreneurs and investors together to discuss the state of our ecosystem. We have heard directly about challenges and opportunities.

Through the 100 SME Online digital entrepreneurship programme, in partnership with Elmari, we trained 100 businesses to move online and compete differently. Through the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Training of Trainers programme, hosted by Felei TechCity in Bo and supported by the International Labour Organization through the Salone Project with European Union funding, we strengthened the capacity of trainers to support MSMEs across the country. Through gatherings with the entrepreneurs done in partnership with the ITC, KOICA, Ready Salone Project, we have strengthened dialogue between government and businesses. Through partnerships like these, we continue to build the infrastructure and support systems entrepreneurs need.

On World Entrepreneurship Day, we recognise that progress happens through consistent work, partnerships that function, and entrepreneurs who persist.

Thank you to every business owner, innovator and investor building Sierra Leone's future. Happy Entrepreneurship Day!

05/08/2026

Ahmed is a second-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering student at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. With skills in video editing, graphic design, and web development, he joined the Learn2Earn programme eager to turn his technical abilities into freelancing opportunities.

"When I started my Learn2Earn journey, I had no guidance and little understanding of what it really takes to succeed as a freelancer. The training has changed that. Today, I can confidently communicate with clients, present my skills professionally, and navigate the freelancing space with much more confidence."- Ahmed S. Kamara, Learn2earn cohorts2 participant.