Parliament Summons Orange SL Over High Service Fees
By Benjamin S. Conteh
The Deputy Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Honorable Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has directed the Parliamentary Communications Committee to summon Orange Sierra Leone for a review of its pricing policies. This directive was issued on October 31st, 2024, in Parliament, following concerns from MPs over the high charges imposed by Orange SL compared to other telecom providers.
During the session, MPs questioned why Orange SL’s charges remain significantly higher than competitors, with citizens facing substantial costs for essential services. Africell Sierra Leone, for instance, billed Parliament NLe 17 for server connectivity, offering free service to Members of Parliament. In contrast, Orange SL initially charged NLe 50, later reducing it to NLe 34 still double Africell’s fee. This disparity raised concerns about Orange SL’s pricing strategy and its impact on affordability for consumers.
The Deputy Speaker also highlighted discrepancies in mobile money transfer fees, proposing these matters be addressed as part of the investigation. “The leadership of the Communications Committee will summon Orange SL to justify these pricing structures,” he affirmed.
The committee comprises five out of six members, with the final appointment forthcoming. Current members include the Deputy Leader of Government Business, the Chairman of the Communications Committee, a PCM representative, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. The Deputy Speaker encouraged the committee to expedite their review.
