Sierra Leone President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma and RippleNami Inc., a blockchain systems solution provider, have announced a nationwide digitisation programme that will forever change Sierra Leone’s global digital standing. By leapfrogging legacy information communication technology (ICT) systems with RippleNami’s proprietary technology platform, Sierra Leone is poised to penetrate global markets, obtain economic independence, and elevate the prosperity of its people.
RippleNami architects the blockchain data visualisation platform that empowers citizens and organisations across the nation to generate, collect, analyse and transact data while positioning Sierra Leone as Africa’s very first ‘smart country’.
In collaboration with the government of Sierra Leone and Data Edge Revenue, a Freetown systems integration company, RippleNami developed the application software that connects people, organisations and resources to services that create social, civic and economic opportunities far beyond any prior capabilities.
This collaboration’s first phase is a nationwide economic identification service. This programme provides the digital credentials and collections systems to increase financial inclusion and to improve access to public and government provided services. The implementation is underway and will roll-out Q4 2017.
In addressing the UN General Assembly today, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Samura Kamara, speaking on behalf of President Koroma, said, “Today we announce a quantum leap towards digitising a national programme, empowering Sierra Leone to obtain economic independence and aggressively compete in global markets while elevating the prosperity of its people. For the first time in our nation’s proud history, Sierra Leone, in partnership with RippleNami, will deploy the blockchain-data visualisation system solution that enables Sierra Leone to generate, own, collect, analyse and transact data on a nationwide scale – making Sierra Leone Africa’s first ‘smart country’.
“For the first time ever, the people and organisations of Sierra Leone can leverage their individual and collective assets to fully participate in and benefit from the global economy,” said Phil Gahn, founder and Chief Business Development Officer of RippleNami. “The visionary leadership of President Koroma and the commitment of the people of Sierra Leone serve as a beacon for other West Africa nations to obtain and sustain a brighter future through digitisation. Our partnership with Data Edge Revenue, and our experience delivering services on our platform in Sierra Leone, stand to benefit the entire region in unforeseen ways.”
Advancements in blockchain and cloud computing, as well as the country’s broad adoption of mobile lifestyles, enable Sierra Leone to leapfrog legacy ICT systems and make essential services affordable and quickly accessible at scale. “We operate with a clear understanding that data is the new currency in today’s economy,” said Jaye Connolly-LaBelle, President and Chief Executive Officer of RippleNami. “This programme cost-effectively positions countries like Sierra Leone to deploy data-driven services that dramatically improve the lives of their citizens and is easily replicable in neighbouring countries.”
The visualisation capabilities of RippleNami’s platform play a central role in resource management and other planning disciplines undertaken by the government and citizens of Sierra Leone. These proprietary capabilities integrate blockchain transactions with other big data sources to help users detect patterns, identify trends and analyse gaps in ways that lead to better decisions in shorter time frames.
The programme also involves a unique service deployment model leading to faster large-scale adoption of the platform enabled services. Sierra Leone government ministries, municipal councils and private businesses in collaboration with RippleNami and Data Edge Revenue are honoured to launch and promote these services throughout the country.
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