By Alieu Amara Suwu
In a heated session before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCA) came under intense scrutiny over the issuance of a major 3G/4G mobile telecommunications license to Bluebean Solutions, a company that allegedly never began operations but may have leveraged the license to secure foreign investor interest and credibility abroad.
The inquiry revealed inconsistencies and confusion over whether Bluebean Solutions was ever officially licensed or merely issued a conditional offer. Despite claims from NATCA that no formal license was granted without payment, correspondence from Bluebean stated otherwise, explicitly referencing a granted license dated as far back as July 2020.
According to PAC members, this lack of clarity allowed Bluebean to parade itself as a legitimate mobile operator while evading payment of licensing fees amounting to Le 24.4 billion, nearly 53% of the contested revenue.
The PAC, frustrated by vague responses and shifting narratives, demanded to see documented evidence of both the alleged license issued and communications with the company.
Hon. Conteh highlighted the gravity of the matter, stating, “It appears we’re enabling impersonators who use fake licenses to secure investments abroad. That undermines our credibility as a nation and puts public revenue at risk.”
Further testimony from NATCA’s finance and regulatory officials attempted to clarify that Bluebean was only issued an invoice following a submitted business plan and that a formal license could only be developed post-payment. Yet, no record was presented showing that NATCA refuted Bluebean’s claim of possessing a license—a detail PAC members saw as tacit approval and gross negligence.
The committee also raised broader concerns about licensing procedures at NATCA, calling for legal reforms to close gaps in the 2022 Finance Act and Telecommunications Act, particularly around preconditions for license issuance, verification of operational status, and mechanisms for recovering unpaid fees.
Bluebean Solutions cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and delays in foreign investment as reasons for non-operation. They formally requested license cancellation and debt removal in a letter dated 30th September 2024, a move PAC viewed as a ploy to avoid payment after having used the license to secure credibility.
The PAC has ordered a full review of all mobile telecommunications licenses issued between 2020 and 2024, demanding that NATCA submit all supporting documentation, including licensing conditions, correspondence, payment records, and board approvals.
This controversy casts a harsh spotlight on the intersection of regulatory weakness, potential administrative malpractice, and significant revenue loss—raising the urgent need for digital traceability, transparent license issuance, and independent oversight in Sierra Leone’s telecom sector.
To be continued pending NATCA’s submission of documents and PAC’s final recommendations.
