GIFEC Hosts Sierra Lone’s Universal Access Development Fund on a Benchmark Visit
The Universal Access Development Fund (UADF) of Sierra Leone has paid a working visit to the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), to benchmark best practices in the implementation of Universal Access. The objective of the visit, specifically, is to benchmark project implementation and sustainability strategies and management structures of GIFEC to strengthen their processes.
As part of the visit, the delegation, led by the Deputy CEO – Mr. Abu Bakarr Sappay Foray-Musa, paid a Courtesy Call on the Hon. Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, who highlighted the strong ties between Ghana and Sierra Leone, and called for the need to forge further collaborations to strengthen this existing relationship.
She reiterated the significance of GIFEC in the digitalisation agenda of the Government and expressed excitement about the UADF’s visit thereof, since GIFEC has several innovative initiatives to benchmark on, for the success of the UADF.
The Administrator of GIFEC, Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah, intimated GIFEC’s commitment to ensuring the UADF acquires all the necessary information and knowledge to make their visit a success. It was his hope, that at the end of the visit, the team would have received requisite knowledge to enhance the implementation of Universal Access and Service in Sierra Leone, benchmarking not only the successes but also learning from GIFEC’s challenges.
He mentioned that it is important for the team to identify the gaps and work better at closing them in order to avoid pitfalls. He finally added that the need to strengthen collaborations between the two agencies for continuous learning and improvement.
Mr. Foray-Musa articulated his team’s gratitude to the Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, the Ministry and Management of GIFEC for hosting them and sharing significant knowledge which will be incorporated in their project implementation.
He added that although UADF had previously visited GIFEC for similar purposes, the mandate and resources of UADF had been expanded, following the establishment of the new National
Communications Authority Act (2022), hence the need to embark on this visit in order to strengthen their processes and structures.
He acknowledged that the team had received a lot to chew on and promised to continue the engagement for a better UADF.
There were presentations from all three Directorates of GIFEC, with special emphasis on the Project implementation, Financial Resources, and sustainability of GIFEC Projects, as well as partnership mechanisms.
Mr. Abu Bakarr Sappay Foray-Musa was with Mr. Brima Sannoh – Manager, Administration and Human Resources, Christiana Queen Fofanah – Manager, Research and Innovation and Abu Bakarr Kallon – Project Manager at the UADF
Present at the meeting from GIFEC were Mrs. Eva Andoh Opoku – Deputy Administrator, Alhaji Yahaya Zakaria Osman – Director, Operations, Alhaji Faisal Issahaku Gbanjili – Director, Administration and Human Resources, and other Management staff of GIFEC.
As part of the benchmarking exercise, the delegation embarked on a field trip to some select GIFEC project sites in the Eastern Region, to broaden their experience and knowledge of GIFEC intervention, as well as challenged. Sites visited include Akyem Adukrom MA Basic School, Sanfo Ano Rural Telephony Project Site and the Amanfrom eCIC.
