By Mohamed J Kargbo
SALPOST, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, has on Thursday, 21st September, engaged stakeholders as well as the media on the review and development of a postal sector policy.
In his keynote address, Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, said without the services of the postal service, it will be very difficult for the whole world to stay connected, stating that as they were there to complete the review of the postal policy, it was important to know that the postal reforms and development was part of the priority of the Universal Postal Union.
He said the development of technology has affected the postal sector in many ways, while technology and improve data base and postal transactions have also provided an opportunity for the postal sector to provide quality costumer services and rationalise cost
Minister Sandi said the postal sector takes on a pivotal role of infrastructure provided for the conduct of businesses in the world, as manufacturers and costumers were often physically separated.
He said for Sierra Leone, the postal sector serves as a bearing and that it should undergo a major transformation built on a sound postal policy.
He said the meeting took them to one step further in exploring the huge business potentials and social value of the postal sector, and alliance with the universal postal union strategy for integrated reform and development project.
Making his statement, Managing Director of SALPOST, Brima Katta, said the policy also includes the regulation of postal services and that they were working to involve the telecom regulation agency.
He said they have drafted the policy which is already at the Law Officers Department and will be taken to parliament for ratification.
He further said that Sierra Leone is part of the universal postal union, and that they held a meeting last month in Abidjan about the review and development of postal services
He stated that the soon-to-be Act is meant for the development and reformation of postal services, adding that SALPOST is going to offer data and postal services through digital means.
During his presentation, Graeme Lee, consultant of Sunflower Associates, said SALPOST should implement rural inclusion, public social partnerships and shouldn’t focus on the main city and forget about the people in the rural areas.
Lee also said that government should also allow SALPOST to carry out all government logistics and be official supplier serving every government building throughout.
