The Director General of the National Communications Authority (NatCA), Amara Brewah, has positioned Sierra Leone at the center of Africa’s digital transformation conversation with a groundbreaking keynote address at the MWC25 held at the Kigali Convention Center in Kigali, Rwanda. Speaking on the theme: “Empowering Africa Through Inclusive Spectrum Policies,” the Director General captivated Ministers, regulators and global industry leaders with a vision that placed connectivity and inclusion at the heart of Africa’s future growth.
Amara Brewah emphasized that Africa’s next phase of development will be driven not by natural resources such as oil or diamonds but by digital connectivity. He described the electromagnetic spectrum, though unseen, as the invisible lifeblood powering communication, innovation and opportunity across the continent.
“Spectrum may be invisible,” he stated, “but its impact is everywhere. It powers our phones, our radios, our emergency services, our schools, our hospitals and our economies.”
He urged African Governments and regulators to view spectrum not as a mere source of revenue but as a developmental resource critical to national progress and social equity.
NatCA Director General presented a comprehensive framework for spectrum reform, calling on policymakers to adopt transparent, inclusive and innovation-driven policies. His reform pillars included:
- Transparent licensing systems to attract investment;
- Fair and flexible pricing to expand rural coverage;
- Coverage-based incentives instead of revenue-focused models; and
- Innovation-friendly policies that empower small and community-based operators.
“Every connected village means hope restored,” he declared, stressing that digital inclusion is both a moral and economic necessity for Africa’s growth.
Highlighting how digital access transforms communities, NatCA DG shared real-life examples from Sierra Leone. He spoke of a farmer in Kambia who now checks market prices through mobile internet, a nurse in a rural clinic consulting doctors in Freetown and students attending virtual lessons from remote areas.
“Connectivity turns isolation into inclusion. It turns potential into prosperity. It turns inequality into empowerment,” he told delegates.
He emphasized that rural connectivity must receive the same policy attention and investment as urban areas, calling for infrastructure sharing, predictable regulatory processes and simplified approval systems.
Under Amara Brewah’s leadership, NatCA Sierra Leone has gained recognition as one of West Africa’s most progressive communications regulators. The Authority has modernized its spectrum management framework, reviewed fees to attract investment and strengthened partnerships with global and regional bodies including WATRA, ATU and ITU.
Sierra Leone’s implementation of Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) frameworks has extended coverage to remote communities, significantly reducing the digital divide.
“Our goal is simple,” DG Amara Brewah affirmed: “To make Sierra Leone a country where no community is left offline and where connectivity is treated not as a privilege but as a right.”
The NatCA Director General personalized his message with the story of Aminata, a young girl from a rural community who studies by torchlight but now accesses online education through improved connectivity.
“It’s not about megahertz; it’s about hope. Hope made visible through connectivity,” he said, underscoring the human impact of inclusive spectrum policies.
In closing, NatCA DG, Amara Brewah, challenged African leaders and regulators to take three key actions to accelerate digital inclusion:
- Publish or update national connectivity roadmaps;
- Reform spectrum pricing and licensing to expand rural access; and
- Promote innovation through community networks and satellite technologies.
“Spectrum is not just a technical asset. It is a human resource that carries the voices of our people, the ideas of our youth and the dreams of our future,” he said.
NatCA DG’s address was widely regarded as one of the most visionary presentations at MWC25 Kigali. His message, anchored in inclusion, innovation and equity, reinforced Sierra Leone’s growing reputation as a leader in digital transformation.
“Because when Africa is connected,” he concluded to resounding applause, “Africa is unstoppable.”
