COMMONWEALTH
TELE
BOSS
PRESENTS
RURAL
CONNECTIVITY
REPORT
TO
PRESIDENT
KOROMA
Accompanied
by
Minister
of
Information
and
Communications
I.
B.
Kargbo,
Deputy
Minister
Saidata
Sesay,
and
Chairman
of
the
National
Telecommunications
Company
(NATCOM)
Siray
Alpha
Timbo,
the
Chief
Executive
Officer
of
the
London-based
Commonwealth
Telecommunications
Organisation
(CTO),
Dr.
Ekwow
Spio-Garbrah,
yesterday
8th
March
2010
presented
President
Koroma
with
a
comprehensive
report
done
by
the
CTO
on
different
telecommunications
programmes
in
African
countries
and
beyond.
When
introducing
the
CEO
to
the
President
at
State
House,
Minister
I.B.
Kargbo
said
Dr.
Spio-Garbrah
and
his
three-man
delegation
are
in
the
country
on
the
invitation
of
the
Ministry
and
NATCOM
to
attend
the
conference
on
rural
telecommunications
connectivity
initiative
in
Makeni.
He
said
the
CEO,
a
former
Minister
of
Communication
in
Ghana,
is
interested
in
connecting
the
whole
of
Africa
through
the
rural-connectivity
system,
adding
that
the
delegation
is
also
here
to
support
the
efforts
of
the
government
to
promote
public-private-people’s
partnerships.
Minister
Kargbo
paid
special
tribute
to
NATCOM
boss
Siray
Timbo
for
initiating
the
idea
of
hosting
the
workshop
for
rural
connectivity.
He
believed
that
the
President
will
send
someone
who
would
ably
represent
him
as
he
unavoidably
travels
to
Nigeria
on a
very
crucial
ECOWAS
meeting.
In
his
remarks,
Dr.
Garbrah
expressed
gratitude
for
the
invitation
and
said,
“We
are
here
to
support
efforts
of
your
government
to
improve
information
and
communication
technology.”
Before
delivering
the
report
to
the
President,
Dr.
Garbrah
said
research
was
conducted
over
an
18-month
period,
that
they
have
tested
the
system
in
the
US,
Canada,
Indonesia
and
Malaysia
with
over
500
telephone
companies
operating
in
rural
areas,
and
that
the
subscribers
are
co-owners
of
the
project.
He
pledged
his
entire
support
and
services
to
the
government
at
all
times
saying:
“We
are
at
your
disposal
in
terms
consultancy,
research,
and
playing
an
advisory
role.”
Welcoming
the
ICT
expert,
President
Koroma
said
they
are
coming
at a
very
critical
time
of
the
country’s
development
drive:
“I
strongly
believe
that
until
we
embark
on
promoting
ICT,
we
will
not
be
able
to
integrate
national
development
to
international
standards.
We
are
therefore
putting
in
place
the
necessary
infrastructure
and
policies
to
facilitate
the
improvement
on
information
and
communication
technology.”
The
President
said
he
was
very
excited
at
the
idea
of
connectivity
for
the
rural
people,
stating
that
“The
bulk
of
our
people
live
in
the
rural
areas.
Justice
will
not
be
done
if
they
are
not
integrated…
I
like
the
concept
of
people’s
ownership.”
The
head
of
State
acknowledged
that
the
idea
is a
great
challenge;
but
with
commitment,
research
and
training,
coupled
with
the
experience
in
other
countries,
the
objective
is
achievable.
“It’s
unfortunate
that
I’ll
not
be
there,
but
Government
will
be
represented
at
the
highest
level,”
he
said,
while
expressing
happiness
that
the
CEO
has
pledged
to
put
his
organization
at
government’s
disposal.
“Already
changes
are
happening
in
the
people’s
lives
because
of
communication
technology.
It
can
only
be
better
when
we
go
to
the
next
level,”
the
President
noted.
