By: Nicholas Bass
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy (MoICDE), Ousman A. Bah, last Friday affirmed that significant progress was made in transforming the country’s digital communication fit into the world’s standard.
Speaking at a press conference held at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center at Bijilo, the communication and digital economy minister disclosed that the past years had experienced a significant improvement in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure with the introduction of the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE).
“It marked the country’s first-mile connectivity through an undersea cable, which replaced the resilience on the limited Satellite Gateway at the Gamtel Abuko Earth Station and its terrestrial link from Senegal,’’ he stressed.
Minister Bah pointed out that his ministry was anticipating establishing the second submarine cable that would improve the digital economy of the country.
He said that in 2022, The Gambia was ranked 174 out of 193 countries in the UN E-government development index, noting that the country fell within 143 in the world ranking among 193 countries.
The digital economy minister disclosed that in the telecommunication sector, the country stood at 159 out of 179 countries in 2019 with low consumption in mobile-data-and-voice affordability ranking.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service (MOPS), Mr. Pateh Bah, on behalf of the Minister of MOPS said their collaboration with the digital sector overseen by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy (MOCDE) was not just about achieving technological milestones, noting that it is about creating a synergistic relationship that enhances the overall efficiency of the government.
”Working together hand-in-hand will allow us to lay the foundation for a more responsive, transparent, and citizen-centric public service,” PS Bah said.
He urged ministries to continue fostering this collaborative spirit, recognizing that their collective efforts are pivotal in achieving the broader goals of national development, stressing that if they work together, they will be able to build a resilient and digitally advanced public service that will meet the needs of Gambians.
Other Speakers at the press conference include the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology ((MOHERST), Prof. Pierre Gomez, who revealed that The University of The Gambia’s Research Directorate was spearheaded by the digital economy ministry, noting that such collaboration underscored the shared vision of the ministries in harnessing the power of education, research, and technology for the socio-economic development of the nation.
The occasion was attended by the deputy speaker of the National Assembly Seedy Njie among many other high-profile dignitaries.