Sierra Leone plans to raise $150 million for a digital innovation hub, spearheaded by Technology and Innovation Minister Salima Bah. The initiative includes creating Tech City in Tikonko, Bo District, aimed at fostering startups and attracting talent. Supported by local telecoms like Africell, which will build a data center, the strategy received early grants from development financial institutions. The project was revealed at the Sierra Leone Tech Summit last week, with President Julius Maada Bio pledging his support to the strategy. He announced a $50 million digital transformation initiative that will revamp the country’s digital infrastructure and boost digital literacy. The government aims to make Tech City a hub for job creation through business process outsourcing centers and device assembly lines. However, it will have to figure out a way to overcome the unreliable electricity and internet connectivity the country is plagued with.
SOURCE: SEMAFOR