A decade ago I was in a side meeting at the AU between the President Koroma, and @NOIweala who was then at the World Bank.

The meeting held on the sidelines of the AU Gen Assembly was on liberalizing #sierraleone’s international gateway and landing fibre optics.

- a thread

At the meeting which included SL’s delegation that year led by the Pres #SierraLeone put forth its concerns re liberalization of the gateway and it centered around questions of sovereignty.

The Bank’s position was full liberalization and privatization of the gateway.

We were then sent technical assistance to support the process. This was in 2010.

I believed at the time that liberalization and privatization was in our best interest based on the way other nations had established their gateways in the sub-region.

However, much to my surprise instead of landing the fibre optics and liberalizing the gateway the government decided it would create @SALCAB_SL another government parastatal.

I asked then Private Sector Advisor my one time mentor Oluniyi Robbin Coker why not handoff?

He has said that he was pro liberalization of the fibre optics and he had advised to that end but that it was above him.

Fibre Optics was landed. I was there at the launch. I listened. Govt launched @SALCAB_SL in partnership with telcos who had also funded fibre so part owners

Then our govt proceeded to use revenues from @SALCAB_SL as an endless pool of cash. Using funds for everything from giving MPs to go campaign to funding artists.

So when I heard all the hooo haaa about privatizing and breaking it up into two entities I was like WOW.

That meeting at the AU was a decade ago....a whole decade that #SierraLeone could have been on a completely different trajectory re connectivity but alas we are still here—behind.

I read Rado said somewhere that this unbundling will benefit all of us but I have no confidence.

If this current govt hasn’t even been able to handle the affairs of @SIERRATEL1 which is another failed parastatal I have no more confidence in their ability to sort our @SALCAB_SL.

They have yet 2 convince me that Min of Info has the technical capacity to lead “unbundling”.

The public myself included needs more information and clarity as The Right Honorable Tawa has stated before they “unbundle”.

@SALCAB_SL may not be profitable right now or it may be but we don’t know and we can’t take Min of Information’s word for it.

@SALCAB_SL should be audited independently and experts brought in to plot the roadmap to profitability.

Ministry of Information doesn’t have the experience or expertise to lead or direct this intended privatization effort and that’s the reality.

This government needs to be honest with itself about all this heavy lifting it is attempting way beyond its capacity.

That is all I have to say. Expecting a round a voice notes from both sides insulting me and my mother for this thread but you know what.