By Hassan I. Conteh

The three West African countries (Sierra Leone, Liberia & the Gambia) have reached a tripartite agreement through an MOU that will see similar charging fees for subscribers for making and receiving phone calls while roaming these countries.

The facility also covers text messages and android phone data network usage per sim-cards owned by subscribers of some private mobile network companies operating in Sierra Leone, Liberia and in the Gambia.

The Memorandum of Understanding is a legally-binding one which was struck down at the Lagoonda Resort at Aberdeen, Freetown, on Friday 31st Jan. 2025.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the bilateral agreement, Gambia’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Deputy Director General, Mr. Solo Sima, said the agreement is meant to build bridges of opportunities.

He believes the three countries have sought deeper partnership, described as a contribution to changes in West Africa’s  Telecommunications industry.

“Our citizens deserve affordable, fair, and transparent mobile phone calling and receiving services.”

While he was aware of the challenges ahead, Mr. Sima, said they’d work to surmount them, adding that “The responsibility now lies on us as member countries.”

“Discussions in the past three days have sowed valid results.”

“Let’s press forward, and on that note, I thank you so much for your efforts made.”

The MOU is to be approved by the West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA).

Mr. Alieu Yusuf Abouki, WATRA’s CEO, spoke through a video conference call, explaining the importance of the trio-countries in reaching such a deal.

“It is about advancing regional integration and digital innovation in West Africa,” he said.

Mr. Abouki said that was made possible through shared commitments by member states, which will lead to economic growth for millions in the region.

Telecoms experts at the program said the agreement was informed by the Abidjan (Ivory Coast) Protocol Framework.

Ghana and the Gambia had been the original developers of the MOU, signed between Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Gambia, during the three days ECOWAS Roaming Regulation Implementation which started on Wednesday 29th to Friday 31st Jan. 2025 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone’s National Telecommunications Authority (NatCA), Director General, Amara Brewa, said the West Africa Telecoms Regulatory Assembly is giving an advisory and overseeing role to the West Africa countries that have adopted or will adopt the “free roaming” mobile network services.

“The idea was for all West African countries to get a single agreement, but ECOWAS said, no, let’s do it on a bilateral level,” says Mr. Brewa.

Liberia and PURA (Gambia) will implement their MOU 1st of July, 2025; Sierra Leone and Gambia will start theirs May 2nd 2025.

“Services should be alive and working by these scheduled dates,” says Liberia’s technical expert.

He said in order to mitigate “issues of fraud” that the free roaming services may come, private Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) should register all sim-cards of their customers.

“We roam like home or locals,” he said.

This means there will be same prices for making and receiving phone calls, similar charges on data, at home and while visiting other member countries.

“It’s not free per se; but a subscriber may pay for top – up the same charges for voice calls, and data while “roaming” in the partnership countries, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Gambia.

“And there will be 30 days free promotion for all customers, holders of all Sim-cards in the roaming countries.”

The private MNOs to be implementing the free roaming services agreement are: Orange, Africell, Qcell and Comium in Gambia.

Orange says it will start implementing the free roaming services to its customers in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali and Togo.

To enforce the MOUs signed, Sierra Leone’s NatCA representatives at the event, said they will be legislated in Parliament and that the National Telecommunications Act of 2022 will empower the MOUs signed by the these countries.

While Liberia Telecommunications Act of 2007 will empower their MOUs to be  implemented fully by the MNOs.

Chairman of Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Abdulai Kamara, says Liberia-Sierra Leone- Gambia- telecoms free roaming services, will promote business tourism and will open up economic opportunities for many citizens in these countries.

“It’s a shared vision for growth and prosperity.”

“This is just the beginning,” Kamara said.