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Telecom

Office of the Deputy Minister for Technical Services

Hon. S. Mohammed Massaley
Deputy Minister for Technical Services

The office of the Deputy Minister assists the Minister in formulating policy on the ICT and the telecommunications sector. The office works with diverse stakeholders both in the public and private sector as well as civil society actors in establishing shared national perspectives on cross-cutting policy issues. It also works with development partners such as the World Bank, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and other institutions to address policy priorities. It is also responsible for coordinating with sector players such as the Liberian Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and service providers to implement national policy objectives. The role of the ministry in the development of the sector as outlined in the National ICT & Telecommunications policy, the National Telecommunications Acts, and other related instruments that are geared towards facilitating the provision of services falls under the office of the Deputy Minister. Essentially, the office of the Deputy Minister ensures that all ICT and telecommunications programs adopted by ITU and other such bodies of which Liberia is a member are domesticated to meet national objectives

Office of the Assistant Minister for Telecommunications

Atty. Nicholas N. Johnson
Assistant Minister for Telecommunications

The office of the Assistant Minister for Telecommunications has the core task to identify new ICT and Telecommunications policy options, reviewing existing policy issues, and advancing initiatives that will accelerate the fulfillment of sector objectives. The Assistant Minister participates in and as well review the workings of relevant ICT and telecommunications organizations such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and African Telecommunications Union (ATU) to ensure that Liberia’s programs are consistent with global policy trend. The Assistant Minister advances proposals to the Deputy Minister for Technical Services in setting the policy agenda which ensures that the potential of ICTs is harnessed and applied towards greater sector development. The Assistant Minister runs the day–to–day affairs of the Department and also helps the Deputy Minister for Technical Services to mentor staff at the Department. The Office of the Assistant Minister for Telecommunications supervises the two divisions, namely—the Division of Telecommunications / Technical Services and the Division of Universal Access / ICT for Development that constitutes the Department.

PROFILE
Nicholas N. Johnson is a professional Liberian with wealth of experience in the public sector of Liberia. Growing
from the position of Staff Analyst at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Johnson served two separate Ministers at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications between the periods of 2011-2018. He later joined the Ministry of Finance and
Development Planning in 2018 as Deputy Advisor for Program and Policy. Currently, he is the Assistant Minister Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. Essentially, Mr. Johnson has led key
development projects while serving in these positions in government, to
include: Interim Coordinator for the World Bank/Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Project-Liberia
(SOP2), the Liberia Business Registry Project (Coordinator and Secretary to the Joint Steering Committee),supported the Liberia Standard Laboratory (Standards Lab) establishment, facilitated the decentralization of postal services around the country and developed a database for inbound and outbound mail-able items. Mr. Johnson also led the negotiations
on the WB/WARDIP-Liberia Initiative, the accession of Liberia into the Africa Solidarity Fund (ASF)-a financial institution involve with the provision of guarantees to banks, the Liberia Digital
Land Information Management System Project (as liaison between GoL and Medici Land Governance (MLG)), and GoL Focal Point on the SEZ and SAPZ implementation, amongst others. His knowledge in International Business has not been fully utilized; however, his contribution to the policy advisory note on SEZ implementation in Liberia speaks volume to his passion for improved policy environment for businesses. He served as the Coordinator of the Liberia Business Climate Working Group Secretariat, an established Joint Steering Committee providing governance on reforms geared towards improving the trade
environment of Liberia. Mr. Johnson served as Liberia’s permanent representative to the Technical Commission on Administration and Finance (Headed the Liberian
delegation two times at TCAF meetings at the Mano River Union). While as an educator, Mr. Johnson served as an
Instructor and Chairman of the Economics Department of the 1st Assembly of God High School, Carey and Buchanan Streets-Monrovia, Liberia and Teacher Assistant (TA) in the Department of Economics at the
University of Liberia.

EDUCATION
Master in International Business (MIB)
Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics
People’s Republic of China
2015 – 2017
GPA-91.2. Monitor of the Class (Class President)
Awards: Winner of 2016 debate competition. Honors: Distinction in
International Business.
Certificate/Trade Facilitation
Remin University of China-Beijing
People’s Republic of China
2010
-Delivered the message on behalf of the African Officials attending the
course at the opening ceremony along with the “Under Secretary
General of the United Nations for underdeveloped and Landlocked
Countries”.
Certificate/Strategies in Local Economic Development,
International Training Center (ITC), Turin-Italy
2009
-Under the auspices of International Labor Organization (ILO) and
Ministry of Labor.
Bachelor Degree in Economics (B.SC)
1999 – 2006
Graduated with 3.25 GPA, Certificate of Honor-2000, Honor Society of
Liberia.
Student Activities

  • Chairman on the Vacation School Committee (Senior Class
    Leadership).
  • Secretary/Interim-ship Committee, Economics Student
    Association (ESA)
    Professional Training/Representation
  • 2023: Attended the ECOWAS Ministerial Meeting in Sierra Leone
    to review and validate the feasibility study for the
    development of the Amilcar Cabral Submarine Cable
    deployment in Liberia.
  • 2023: Attended the African Solidarity Fund, Executive Director’s
    Board Meeting as Liberia’s observer in Niger. My participation
    and contribution to the discussion placed Liberia on the
    agenda for membership.
  • 2023: Represented the Ministry of Finance and Development
    Planning at the “Recent Economic Situation and Forecasts in
    English speaking ECOWAS Countries”. This event occurred at a
    critical time when the Covid 19 virus negatively impacted
    macro-economic performance globally, under the sponsorship
    of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
    (UNECA), the event took place in Banjul, The Gambia.
  • 2021: Led the Liberian Delegation to the Mano River Union
    (MRU) “Technical Committee on Administration and Finance
    (TCAF) meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • 2019: Led the Liberian Delegation to the Mano River Union
    (MRU) “Technical Committee on Administration and Finance
    (TCAF)” meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
  • 2011: Attended the Seminar on Regional Postal Regulations-
    Cotonou, Benin.
  • 2011: Attended the Seminar on Aid for Trade-Abuja, Nigeria
    2009: Coordinated the study Tour on Business Registry
    Operations-Oslo, Norway
  • 2008: Attended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Regional
    Seminar on Rules-Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations-Port-Louis,
    Mauritius
  • 2008: Attended the ECOWAS Trade Negotiations and Capacity
    Building Workshop held under the auspices of the Ministry of
    Commerce and Trade in collaboration with ECOWAS.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Assistant/Acting Deputy Minister for Technical Services
Department of Technical Services
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
2024-Current
-Supervise the technical units of the Department of Technical Services
(Bureau of ICT and Universal Access and Bureau of
Telecommunications).

  • Coordinate the development of national policy and framework
    documents for the Information Communication Technology (ICT)
    Sector of Liberia.
    -Serve as Interim Coordinate for the West African Regional Digital
    Integration Project-Phase II for Liberia/World Bank sponsorship
    -Serve as the Liberia’s Focal Point for the development of a regional e-
    Government Strategy for ECOWAS.
    -Coordinate the activities of the Project Management Office (PMO)
    and Chief Information Officer Unit with the Department of Technical
    Services
    -Provide technical recommendations on digital expansion and
    adaptation of new technologies.
    -Coordinate key projects in the Department of Technical Services
    Key deliverables:
    Led the negotiations with the World Bank to secure US$50m for the
    implementation of WARDIP-Liberia. Coordinated the development of
    the ICT sector input into the National Development Plan-ARREST
    Agenda for Inclusive Development. Coordinated the development of
    the Ministry annual deliverable for 2024, and monitored the
    achievements of each performance target. Represented the Ministry
    at the Forum on China-Africa Digital Cooperation in Beijing, China from
    July 29-30, 2024. Accompany the Minister of Posts and
    Telecommunications at the GITEX, Morocco Summit 2024 & 2025.
    Developed the Ministry’s annual report for 2024, outlining the
    accomplishments, challenges, prospects and key recommendations.
    Deputy Advisor for Program and Policy
    Office of the Minister
    Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
    2018–2023
  • Coordinated program design and implementation with
    donors/partners (USAID-LEPDA, AFDB-Mahindra, IMF, World Bank, IFC,
    MLG, etc.)
  • Provided support to existing programs and/or projects on behalf of
    the Minister
  • Reviewed existing policy challenges and develop policy advisory
    notes to inform policy directives.
  • Served as liaison between the Office of the Minister and other
    Departments of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
  • Served as the Liberia Representative to the Technical Commission for
    Administration and Finance (TCAF) of the Mano River Union (MRU).
  • Serve as the Coordinator of the Business Climate Working Group-
    Secretariat.
    4
  • Led negotiations for Liberia membership to the Africa Solidarity Fund
    (ASF), an organization championing the participation of the private
    sector African countries growth dynamics through the provision of
    guarantees for development and business initiatives on behalf of
    Governments.
  • Acted in the capacity of Principal Advisor for Program and Policy due
    to the departure of the Principal Advisor for Program and Policy from
    2021-2023.
    Key deliverables: Worked with USAID/LEPDA project to rollout activities
    for Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority (LSEZA) implementation.
    Coordinated the Liberia Land Management Information System (LMIS)
    pilot project with Medici Land Governance (MLG) and Liberia Land
    Authority (LLA). Represented MFDP during the development and review
    of the National Digital Economy Policy Development and the Land
    Rights Regulation. Coordinated the IMF-ECF program in concert with
    the MEFP agreed to by both parties under the program (2020-Current).
    Developed the Business Climate Log-frame to meet the structural
    Benchmark under the IMF/ECF program. Established the BCWG-S Unit
    at MFDP with support from WB/LIFT-P. Developed the Domestic
    Resource Mobilization-Advisory note on proposed flat-rate real estate
    tax implementation. Coordinated the fiscal dashboard for the Minister
    of Finance from 2018-2020 to enhance fiscal discipline, etc.) Drafted
    the Minister’s position on climate change discussions during the African
    Development Bank (AFDB) annual meetings from 2022 to 2023.
    Attended the 2023-World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual
    Meetings held in Morocco, Marrakesh. Serving as the Executive Director
    for Liberia on the Africa Solidarity Fund, Board of Executive Directors.
    Technical Advisor/Special Assistant to the Minister
    Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
    2012–2018
  • Served as the focal point for the Ministry on two National
    Development Plans (Agenda for Transformation and Pro-poor Agenda
    for Prosperity and Development).
  • Developed the technical report on WB sponsored Universal Access
    Feasibility Study in Ghana that led to the Universal Access
    Implementation Unit at Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA).
  • Coordinated the expansion of postal facilities in rural Liberia under the
    supervision of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications –to date
    postal facilities are in 12 out of 15 counties.
  • Negotiated the integration of Western Union and Money-gram into
    the postal system and facilitated the complementary partnership
    initiative with DHL to convey the Ministry’s international mail, while we
    convey DHL mail in other parts of the country.
  • Reviewed all postal related policies and regulations for technical
    advice and/or preparation for onward transmission to the
    cabinet/President.
  • Served as principal speech writer and/or researcher for the Minister
    between 2011-2017
    -Coordinated the development of the 2017-18 turnover note for the
    Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications during the transition.
  • Provided technical advice on allowance distribution in line with the
    CSA mandate, which gave heads of institution the privilege to make
    appropriation based on performance.
    5
  • Led the team of Liberia ICT sector stakeholders to South Korea to
    explore potential public-private partnership opportunities in Information
    Communication Technical (ICT).
  • Served as focal point in the Office of the Minister on the USAID/Gems
    E-government Initiative at the Ministry.
  • By 2018, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning requested
    the transfer of my expertise to his office.
    Director of Planning, Research, Statistics and Documentation-
    Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
    2011–2012
    -Developed the ICT Sector strategic plan for the period of five years
    (2012-2017) in consultation Libtelco and Liberia Telecommunications
    Authority (LTA) under the Agenda for Transformation (AFT).
  • Designed a standardized statistical reporting template on inbound
    and outbound mail-able items for the Division of Planning, Research,
    Statistics and Documentation.
  • Updated Liberia’s mail statistics in the Universal Postal Union (UPU)
    statistics book for countries between the periods 2011-2012, after a long
    absence.
  • Restructured the Division of Planning, Research, Statistics and
    Documentation organigram for efficiency.
    -Developed a concept note on streets mail box initiative to enhance
    visibility of the postal services in communities, and planted over 30 mail
    boxes in and around Monrovia.
    Staff Analyst-Office of the Assistant Minister for Commerce and Trade
    Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    2008-2010
    -Coordinated the reform agenda on starting a business indicator in
    Liberia, and successfully implemented an automated business
    registration process that reduced the number of days to register a
    business from 99days to 48 hours (this project led to the establishment
    and operationalization of the Liberia Business Registry (LBR)).
  • Served as Secretary to the Joint Steering Committee on the LBR
    Project and coordinated the study tour to Norway for familiarization on
    business registry operations.
  • Coordinated reports consolidation in the Bureau of Commerce and
    Trade for informed policy and/or regulatory decisions.
  • Served as Co-Chairman/Liberia Coordinating Committee on
    enhancing Domestic Production and Export Expansion through market
    access.
    -Led the structural reform that reduced the number of signatures on the
    Import Permit Declaration (IPD) from four (4) to two (2). This effort
    improved the turnaround time for importers.
    Staff Analyst-Office of the Assistant Minister for Industry
    Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    2007-2008
    -Served as statistician on the pilot project that identified the number of
    Liberian owned businesses against foreign owned businesses (the
    statistical report authenticated the dominance of foreign owned
    businesses in the Liberian economy, thus facilitating the strengthening
    of the Liberianiization Law-setting aside businesses for only Liberians).
    -Served as “facilitator” on the Small, Medium Enterprises perspective
    during the drafting of the new labor code (Labor Growth Nexus
    Workshop).
    -Served as International Trade Centre (ITC) focal point for
    “Entrepreneurship Development” and supported the ITC project on
    Chili Pepper production for export-under ITC export diversification
    initiative.
    6
    -Served as the Secretary to the Minimum Wage Board appointed by
    President Sirleaf in 2006.
    Chairman of Economics Department/1st Assemblies of God High Sch.
    2001-2007
    -Prepared senior students for West African Examinations in the area of
    Economics
  • Developed teaching materials in Economics for the Senior High School
    Division as depicted by the secondary school curriculum of the Ministry
    of Education, Republic of Liberia.
  • Influenced the career path of several young students based on my
    method of teaching and principles.
  • Cultivated academic tolerance among students
    • SKILLS
      Coordinate
      Analytical
      Eloquence
      Writing
      Negotiations