– As President Boakai Receives Alpha Phi Alpha Merit Award in New York
New York, September 24, 2024 – The Government of Liberia has entered into a master service framework agreement with the US-based technology company Cybaston Institute of Technology to implement a Digital Fast Track (DFT) program aimed at accelerating the country’s digital transformation.
Under this five-year agreement, Cybaston will undertake a series of initiatives to address Liberia’s current digital deficiencies. The company will begin with a comprehensive assessment of Liberia’s existing digital infrastructure and capabilities, followed by the creation of a customized action plan to bridge identified technology gaps.
Key components of the agreement include developing a connection to an undersea cable to significantly enhance Liberia’s international connectivity, redundancy, and bandwidth. This connection is expected to position Liberia as a regional digital hub, increasing internet resilience and boosting connectivity with an additional capacity of up to 1Tbps.
Additionally, Cybaston will design and construct a scalable data center to host both existing and future e-government services and public infrastructure. The firm will also implement a range of digital government services aimed at improving citizen interaction, streamlining business processes, and modernizing public sector operations, including services such as e-visa, e-taxes, and e-tourism.
To ensure the security of Liberia’s digital assets, Cybaston plans to develop and implement robust cybersecurity measures. This includes establishing a security operations center equipped to monitor, detect, and respond to cyber threats, as well as setting up a computer security incident response team to manage and mitigate security incidents.
At the end of the five-year agreement in September 2029, Cybaston will transfer the developed digital capabilities to Liberia’s Ministry of Post and Telecommunication.
Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, who signed on behalf of the Government of Liberia, hailed the agreement as a significant milestone in Liberia’s journey towards digital transformation.
In related news, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai received the Alpha Merit Award from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in New York. The award recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to society and their nations.
President Boakai expressed his gratitude for the honor and pride of being the first member of the fraternity to be elected President of a sovereign nation. Founded on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. The fraternity established its first African chapter, Eta Epsilon Lambda, in Monrovia, Liberia, on October 6, 1958.
President Boakai, a long-standing member of the fraternity, acknowledged the organization’s pivotal role in helping Liberia combat the Ebola Virus Disease in 2014 and 2015 and commended its ongoing social service efforts both in Liberia and globally.
This dual milestone marks a significant step forward for Liberia in both technological advancement and international recognition.
