Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Salima Monorma Bah, has been named to TechCabal’s inaugural Builders’ List, an editorial index that recognises individuals shaping Africa’s technology ecosystem through clear and lasting impact.
Her inclusion places her among a final group selected from more than 600 researched candidates across all 54 African countries. According to TechCabal, the selection process was based on a comparative editorial review that prioritised measurable change within the past year, assessed in relation to each country’s operating context rather than public profile or reputation.
As Sierra Leone’s first Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Bah’s work has focused on building foundations rather than headlines. Her tenure has prioritised digital infrastructure, improved access, and the systems required for innovation to take root and scale. Some key areas that have received attention are the development of global bandwidth, development of open access fiber networks, development of digital public infrastructure, and building a foundation for future investment in the ecosystem.
It has been observed that these measures remedy some long-existing issues in connectivity and access, which had been some of the challenges hindering Sierra Leone’s engagement with the African technology sector. The focus of policy on infrastructure and inclusiveness, therefore, aimed at fostering an environment that would sustainably nurture innovation. This award by TechCabal puts Sierra Leone on a continental map that sees countries where policies and leadership are making a big impact in terms of facilitating technological ecosystems.
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Nonetheless, it also marks another occasion that highlights, albeit silently, the role that systems development by governments is making in shaping digital futures. In the case of Sierra Leone, the recognition is both symbolic and pragmatic. It is a recognition that hard work in a focused manner, no matter how small or less well-resourced, is noticed at the continent level if it brings about noticeable success.
