Neneh Macdouall Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication, Information and Technology on Sunday convened a Telecommunication Consumer Forum at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

The aim of the forum was to allow consumers and business operators in the telecom industry to discuss on the problems in the telecommunication industry and find ways forward to ensure effective and reliable telecommunication system in the country.

Declaring the forum opened, SoS Macdouall Gaye said that the forum aimed of gathering both the consumers and the operators, is to discuss on the constraints currently realised in the telecommunication industry in a bid to improve on service delivery. She said her Department is committed to ensure effective service delivery with a viable telecommunication system. “The government under President Jammeh’s leadership is committed in introducing information technology in all schools to enable school children to be computer literate,” she noted.

She commended both the Gamtel, Gamcel, Africell officials and the Commium GSM which is in the pipeline for their response to the forum.

Katim Touray, the new Managing Director of Gamtel, commended SoS Gaye for this remarkable forum. Adding that it will greatly help consumers to keep abreast of what transpires in the industry. He assured the gathering that Gamtel management is committed to look at all its businesses that will enable them uplift the telecommunication system.

Pierre Cherry, Acting General Manager, Gamcel, expressed delight for the forum noting that it will help consumers to raise their concerns and operators to respond while a way forward will be set.

Representatives from Africell and Commium GSM both expressed similar sentiments.

During the forum, representatives from the different companies highlighted on the problems of network in the country especially between Gamcel and Africell, the expensive rates of telecenter calls, the high rate charges from Africell to Gamcel and the difficulty in obtaining a house line amongst others.

Papa Leigh, Marketing Manager of Africell and Almamy Gassama, Head of Gamcel Marketing and Katim Touray, the Managing Director of Gamtel responded to the observations raised by the consumers. They also plan to put a stop to pornographic pictures on the internet to discourage school children from browsing such website.