A major milestone in West Africa’s digital integration was reached this week, as Liberia and Sierra Leone officially signed a landmark agreement to introduce free mobile roaming services between the two countries.
The signing took place during the Regional Roaming Conference held in Monrovia under the theme “Connecting Nations, Empowering Citizens.”
The agreement marks the launch of seamless cross-border mobile communication between the two nations—allowing citizens to make and receive calls, send texts, and access data without incurring extra roaming charges while traveling across the Liberia–Sierra Leone border.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the National Communications Authority (NatCA) of Sierra Leone. It follows months of technical coordination and policy alignment between both regulators, supported by regional partners.
Speaking at the event, Amara Brewah, Director-General of NatCA, hailed the agreement as a transformative step toward realizing the vision of regional digital connectivity and economic cooperation.
“This MoU is more than a document—it represents a shared commitment to empowering our citizens and removing barriers to communication. It’s a critical move toward achieving affordable and accessible services across our borders,” Brewah said.
He commended mobile operators from both countries— Lone Star MTN, LTC, Orange Liberia, Africell, Orange Sierra Leone, and Qcell —for their technical readiness and pricing alignment, which were crucial to enabling the launch.
Clarence K. Massaquoi, Chairman of the LTA, described the signing as a “historic breakthrough” that will strengthen social and economic ties between Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“Our citizens can now travel freely and stay connected without fear of excessive charges. This initiative directly supports regional integration and opens up new opportunities for trade, education, and mobility,” Massaquoi said.
Also present at the signing was Sekou Kromah, Liberia’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, who reaffirmed his government’s support for deeper collaboration across ECOWAS member states.
In addition to the Liberia–Sierra Leone agreement, the week also saw the signing of another MoU between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, further expanding the ECOWAS free roaming initiative.
The agreement between Liberia and Sierra Leone is seen as a significant step toward fulfilling the 2017 ECOWAS Roaming Regulation, which aims to eliminate roaming surcharges and create a unified communications space within West Africa.
The Sierra Leonean delegation to the conference included top NatCA officials: Amara Brewah (Director-General), Braima Ronnie Kargbo (Director of Administration and HR), Musa Jalloh (Deputy Director and ECOWAS Roaming Focal Point), Shaka Sasha Essa (Senior Manager of Fraud), Mamawah Kaikai (Policy and Government Relations Manager), and Janneh Johnson (General Services Officer).
The successful signing of the agreement is expected to pave the way for broader regional adoption of free roaming services, promoting greater digital inclusion and economic integration across the subregion.