Enhancing Liberia's ICT Sector: Twenty Recommendations for Progress.
By: Dr. Darren Wilkins
Phone: (231886703789/231777129092) (Email: DWilkins@SaharaTeck.com)
In 2007, Liberia enacted its “Telecommunications Act of 2007,” marking a crucial moment in the country’s transition to the digital age. This legislation introduced significant changes, positioning Liberia within the modern digital landscape of the 21st century. Subsequently, the country developed and adopted the National ICT and Telecommunications Policy (2010–2015), laying out a framework for advancing technology and connectivity nationwide.
In November 2011, Liberia welcomed the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, a landmark event that brought high-speed internet connectivity to the country. This development not only enhanced international connectivity but also catalyzed growth in Liberia’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. I will refer to the “telecommunications sector” as the “ICT Sector” since telecommunications is a subset of ICT, and all components of ICT were affected by the changes made above.
In 2014, the Government of Liberia (GOL) published the “e-Government Strategy Document (2014-2018),” aligning with the Liberia National Agenda for Transformation. This document served as a guide for implementing electronic government initiatives, further integrating technology into governance and service delivery. More recently, in 2019, Liberia introduced the National ICT Policy (2019-2024), reflecting the country’s ongoing commitment to leveraging the power of ICTs for national development.
Almost two decades have passed since Liberia embraced ICTs, and while we can boast of significant strides in the ICT sector, Liberia continues to grapple over the realization of the full potential of ICTs on its socioeconomic development. In view of the above, I am using today’s article to make a few comprehensive recommendations for stakeholders to consider, as we work to advance Liberia’s ICT sector. These recommendations address key areas such as policy reform, infrastructure development, capacity building, innovation, and digital inclusion. By prioritizing these initiatives, Liberia can pave the way for a more inclusive, prosperous, and technologically advanced future.
Below, I have inserted twenty recommendations for the improvement of Liberia’s ICT sector:
- Policy and Regulation Review: We need to conduct a comprehensive review of existing policies, regulations, and legal frameworks governing the ICT sector to modernize and remove outdated regulations. This would enable an ideal environment for innovation, investment, and competition in the sector. This will also help remove all policy and regulatory vacuums in the sector.
- The new National ICT Policy: As the National ICT Policy 2019–2024 draws to a close, we must work to create a thorough policy that is in line with both emerging and current technologies as well as the goals of sustainable development. This will help guide policymaking and investment in the sector.
- Infrastructure Development for Digital Connectivity: We must prioritize the expansion of broadband infrastructure. In particular, we must develop strategies to expand access to affordable and reliable broadband services by leveraging the new national backbone infrastructure that was recently erected by CSquared Liberia. We will also need to enhance connectivity through satellite, and other technologies to improve access to high-speed internet services nationwide, especially in underserved areas, including rural communities, to bridge the digital divide. We must also explore options to bring in a second submarine cable, such as the Amilcar Cabral Submarine Cable System, to enhance international connectivity and the resilience of the ICT infrastructure.
- ICT Standards and Interoperability: We need to establish standards and interoperability frameworks to ensure compatibility and seamless integration of ICT systems and services. For example, all government ministries, agencies, and commissions must use their institutional email accounts ending with the .gov.lr domain name. At the same time, all Government of Liberia’s or GoL’s websites must use the .gov.lr domain.
- Digital Economy Office: There is a need to establish a dedicated Digital Economy Office to coordinate and oversee efforts to promote digitalization and drive economic growth through ICT. At the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), one of the commissioners is responsible for government affairs. That position should be changed to Commissioner for Digital Economy.
- ICT Research and Innovation: We must invest in research and innovation in ICT to drive technological advancements, create new solutions, and stimulate economic growth. Over the years, we have sought support for Liberia’s national research and education network (NREN), known as the Liberia Research and Education Network (LRREN). The effort to operationalize the LRREN has not been favorable hitherto the writing of this article.
- Capacity Building: Capacity building is crucial to our development; hence, we must invest in training programs and initiatives to enhance ICT skills among the workforce, educators, and policymakers. The training and development opportunities provided will enhance ICT skills, knowledge, and capabilities across organizations and the workforce.
- Digital Literacy: Integrate digital literacy programs into the education system to equip students with essential ICT skills from an early age.
- E-Government Services: Implement e-government services to improve efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of public services for citizens. Revive the Chief Information Officer (CIO) regime to drive digital transformation and innovation within government ministries, agencies, and commissions (MACs). Then, empower CIOs across various MACs to lead ICT initiatives and drive organizational change towards digitalization and efficiency. Also, revamp the Project Management Office (PMO) to enhance its capabilities to ensure effective project planning, execution, and delivery of ICT initiatives.
- Cybersecurity: Implement a robust cybersecurity regime (policies, regulations, etc.) to safeguard against cyber threats and protect critical infrastructure and data. The cybercrime law that is in the National Legislature needs to be revisited before being passed into law.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies: Lay the foundation for the adoption and integration of AI and emerging technologies to drive innovation and efficiency across sectors. Encourage innovation and investment in new technologies and digital services to drive economic growth and enhance competitiveness in the global market.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Ensure collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society to drive ICT initiatives and investments. Open communication channels among all stakeholders, including the government, private sector, academia, and civil society, to effectively address sector challenges.
- Mobile Money Services: Improve mobile money services to facilitate financial inclusion and access to banking services for the unbanked population. The current situation involving mobile money, which does not allow a user of the Orange network to transfer money to a Lonestar MTN number, has negatively impacted mobile money services. This can be fixed!
- ICT Entrepreneurship: Support ICT startups and entrepreneurs through incubation programs, access to funding, and mentorship opportunities. With the advent of incubation centers, including Orange’s facility on Tubman Blvd, and the University of Liberia’s UNIPOD, the need for funding and mentorship opportunities cannot be overemphasized.
- Open Data Initiatives: Promote the use of open data initiatives to improve transparency, accountability, and decision-making across various sectors.
- ICT in Healthcare: Use ICT, such as telemedicine, electronic health records, and health information systems, to improve the delivery of healthcare.
- Digital Agriculture: Utilize ICT tools and platforms to modernize agriculture practices, improve productivity, and facilitate access to markets for farmers.
- ICT in Education: Integrate ICT into educational curricula and provide access to digital learning resources to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
- Smart Cities: Embrace smart city concepts to improve urban planning, infrastructure management, and citizen services through ICT-enabled solutions.
- Privatization of Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC Mobile): Consider privatization or restructuring of Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC) to improve efficiency and financial sustainability. Alternatively, transform LTC into a revenue-generating entity by diversifying its services, exploring new business models, and leveraging its infrastructure and assets effectively.
Acting on these 20 recommendations may not be the “final solution” to Liberia’s developmental problems, but they certainly can unlock the full potential of Liberia’s ICT sector, drive economic growth, and improve the overall well-being of its citizens in the digital age.