By: Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
In a comprehensive update on the nation’s digital infrastructure, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, detailed a transformative advancement powered by over $200 million in investments made by the government and development partners over the years.
Minister Bah was speaking at the Civic Day Series in the United States, organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on September 30, 2025.
Minister Salima Bah highlighted significant gains across critical areas, from foundational connectivity to cutting-edge digital governance and innovation ecosystems. At the core of the transformation is a massive expansion of the country’s physical technological infrastructure. The critical fibre optic network, the digital highway of the nation, has been significantly expanded. Previously connecting only 8 districts in 2018, the backbone now reaches 14 out of Sierra Leone’s 16 districts, bringing internet connectivity to the doorsteps of millions of citizens and businesses.
To ensure this connectivity reaches people wirelessly, the number of mobile sites across the country has seen a dramatic surge. The count has grown from 798 in 2019 to 1,405 mobile sites, drastically improving network coverage, reliability, and mobile internet access in both urban and rural areas.
“These investments are not just about cables and towers; they are about connecting our people to opportunities, livelihoods, education, and healthcare”, Minister Bah emphasised.
Moving beyond foundational work, Minister Salima Bah said Sierra Leone is also embracing the forefront of global tech. Minister Bah informed Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora that the country has introduced two transformative services, the introduction of Starlink satellite internet service and the first-ever Stand-Alone 5G Open Access Network in West Africa.
Central to these transformations, is the use of technology to streamline government services and improve citizen welfare. Minister Bah informed the audience about two innovative platforms that are impacting lives. One of such is the PResTract, a dedicated platform for monitoring pregnant women, aiming to improve maternal healthcare outcomes by ensuring better tracking and timely medical interventions and also the Wan-Gov Application, this “one-stop shop” digital platform is revolutionising how citizens interact with the government. It simplifies and centralises the application process for essential documents like National ID cards, driver’s licenses, and passports, reducing bottlenecks and enhancing efficiency.
Additionally, the minister unveiled ambitious plans to cultivate a homegrown tech industry, highlighting Felei Tech City in Bo District, an economic zone for technology companies, startups, and innovators, this zone is designed to create a collaborative ecosystem that will drive Sierra Leone’s digital economy forward and also mentioned the time Sierra Leone Innovation Investment Fund (SLIIF), a vehicle to mobilize financial resources. This arrangement is critical for providing the necessary capital for startups and SMEs in the tech sector to grow and scale their operations.
From connecting remote villages to empowering pregnant mothers, from launching 5G to funding the next big startup, Sierra Leone’s tech transformation, under the stewardship of Minister Salima Monorma Bah, is demonstrating a holistic and forward-thinking approach to national development in the 21st century.
