Ministry of Communication launches Digital Infrastructure Dialogue to expand trust, Access and Innovation

The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) hosted the two-day National Digital Public Infrastructure Public-Private Sector Dialogue Forum on August 4 and 5 at the National Telecommunication Authority (NaTCA) Building Auditorium in Imatt, South Ridge.

The event Held under the theme, “Building Sierra Leone’s Digital Trust and Transaction Infrastructure,” the forum brought together representatives of ministries, departments and agencies, private-sector firms, financial institutions, academia, civil society and development partners.

The discussions focused on three core pillars of digital public infrastructure: trusted digital identity, secure and efficient digital payments, and interoperable data exchange. Participants said those systems would help citizens access services more easily, give businesses greater confidence to innovate, and enable public institutions to deliver services more efficiently.

The dialogue also advanced plans for a national digital identity ecosystem built on open-source technology, verifiable credentials and international standards for privacy, security and data sovereignty. Officials said the effort marks an early step in a broader national drive to create policy, governance and technical foundations for secure and inclusive digital transformation.

Speaking during the opening session on the second day, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Monorma Bah said digital transformation required coordinated action across institutions.

“No single institution can drive Digital Public Infrastructure alone. True digital transformation is not about different systems operating independently; it is about building sustainable, secure, interoperable and effective systems that improve the lives of citizens,” Bah said.

Bank of Sierra Leone Governor Dr. Ibrahim Stevens said reliable financial infrastructure remained essential to a strong digital economy.

“We have invested significantly in critical financial infrastructure and continue to look at how we can make these systems more secure, effective and efficient, while ensuring they work better for the economy,” Stevens said, adding that stronger links across financial systems would support smoother transactions for citizens, businesses and government.

World Bank Country Manager Abdu Muwonge said trusted platforms, digital identity and connected systems would be central to Sierra Leone’s long-term digital future.

“Success should ultimately be measured by how these systems improve services and create meaningful impact for citizens,” Muwonge said.

The National Civil Registration Authority Director General Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi said trusted identity would remain at the centre of digital inclusion.

“A trusted digital identity is the foundation upon which inclusive digital services are built. At NCRA, our contribution to Sierra Leone’s DPI journey is centred on ensuring that every citizen has secure, reliable and verifiable identity that enables access to services, strengthens trust and supports innovation across the digital ecosystem,” Massaquoi said.

Sierra Leone’s ambassador to China, Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, said international cooperation would help accelerate digital development and create wider opportunities for sustainable growth.

“Partnerships such as this highlight the importance of international cooperation in driving digital development. The collaboration between the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation and SIGN reflects Sierra Leone’s vision of embracing innovation, strengthening digital systems and creating opportunities that contribute to the country’s sustainable development,” Karim said.