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Gamtel/Gamcel Sale Elicit Questions of Redundancy Thursday, September 20, 2007 As Secy Macdouall-Gaye Justifies Move in NA The Secretary of State for communication, Information and Technology, Mrs Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, has observed that the government of the Gambia has decided to find a strategic partner for Gamtel/Gamcel so as to inject the necessary capital to increase coverage and improve quality of service. Mrs. Macdouall-Gaye was responding to a question posed by the Minority Leader who was seeking to know whether the sale would not cause any redundancy. “Gamtel over the years has deteriorated greatly in terms of service provision, service quality and accessibility. It experienced stagnation in network expansion at a time when population increase, boom in business and transforming the economy into a technology-driven one require robustness, dynamism and strong competitiveness for any operator in the business of telecommunication,” she said. Secy Macdouall-Gaye added that Gamtel has not been in a position technically, operationally, managerially and organisationally to provide these and achieve the government’s objectives of universal telecommunication access to every one in the country. These concerns, she went on, are in line with governments liberalisation policies and programmes as enshrined in the National Information and Communication Infrastructure policy and telecommunication sub-sector strategy. “Government felt that there is need to inject capital, new technology and new business models and strategies through strategic partnership with reputable companies who have the required competence and financial muscle to extend quality, affordable telephone and related services to all citizens and residents in The Gambia,” Secy Gaye added. Also responding to another question as to what measures have been taken prior to the sale negotiations raised by the same honourable member, the Communication, Information and Technology Secy reassured members of the National Assembly that there would be no loser in the process. She further revealed that there is little risk if any in Spectrum Company being the strategic partner as the company is an internationally acclaimed company operating in both Africa and Middle East with good reputation in business. Readers would recall that the recent sale of 50% shares of Gamtel and Gamcel to Spectrum Company limited gave rise to widespread concerns that the move would result to redundancy and other adverse measures that were deliberately ignored in the sale negotiations. Author: By Baboucarr Senghore & Abba A.S. Gibba Source: The Point |
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