GAMTEL, GAMCEL to be restructured, repositioned

In its special meeting in 2019, the Cabinet has agreed that the national cellular company, GAMCEL, be repositioned and restructured, just as its parent company, GAMTEL.

However, following such a repositioning and restructuring, Cabinet also agreed that GAMCEL shares have to be divested. Their decisions are based on the outcome of an option study for restructuring government supply side participation in the country’s telecoms market.

The said papers were presented by the Ministers of Finance and Economic Affairs, and that of Information Communication Infrastructure, Mr Mambury Njie and Ebrima Sillah respectively.

“After a thorough deliberation on the options in the study, Cabinet agreed on actions recommended by the Ministry of Information and Communications Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,” Minister Sillah told State House press corps after a whole day session today.

Cabinet also agreed that the restructuring will ensure that GAMCEL operates under an independent management, free from GAMTEL’s control and influence. It also endorsed the recommendation that GAMTEL be restructured and repositioned, in order to make it more effective and efficient.

“Cabinet further agreed that the liberalization of the international gateway be expedited, with the full blown monitoring system which will be managed by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA),” Minister Sillah revealed.
The special session was presided over by His Excellency, President Adama Barrow.