Corporate Gangsterism… NaTCA Bites Africell, Orange Mobile 500M Each

The National Communications Authority’s slamming of a Five Hundred Million fine each on Africell and Orange didn’t come to many as a surprise.
Nemesis caught up with the two companies on the 2nd of October 2024, after they failed to adhere to several notifications from NatCA to regularize their mobile money operations, something they have been doing for so long.

The two companies have been operating mobile money transactions illegally in the country contrary to the provisions of the National Communications Authority Act of 2022.

The recent action of NatCA, comes as a relief to many Sierra Leoneans who believe that these companies have not been living up to the expectations of the nation by not only evading government taxes but providing a poor network.

This time around, NatCA has made it clear that any failure on their part to operate in conformity with the laws of Sierra Leone will be met with stiff resistance.
Reacting to the fines , Abu Bakar Thaimu Sesay in Freetown said that, “It is sad that those big companies that are claiming to be giant in the communications industry could be found wanting for flouting government regulations. Most of these Ponzi schemes are done through mobile transactions, and if it is not properly monitored by the government, many Sierra Leoneans would be victims,” he said while calling on the government to closely monitor their operations.