By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a landmark development demonstrating its commitment to workforce empowerment and sustainable growth, Orange Sierra Leone has officially launched an Employee Shareholder Program, enabling staff to become part-owners of the company. The initiative was unveiled during a high-level Town Hall Meeting at the company’s Hill Station headquarters on Monday, coinciding with a three-day working visit by Elisabeth Medou Badang, Chief Human Resource Officer for Orange Middle East and Africa (MEA).
The announcement marks a transformative shift in Orange Sierra Leone’s corporate strategy by aligning employee contributions with ownership and fostering a new framework for inclusive growth and engagement.
Agnes Songa, Human Resources Director of Orange Sierra Leone, welcomed the MEA HR Chief, highlighting her visit as a powerful demonstration of the Orange Group’s core values: care, responsibility, and bold leadership. Songa noted that while Sierra Leone is a smaller affiliate by size, its performance, employee engagement, and influence within the Orange network remain significant.
“We may be small in size, but we are strong in voice and performance,” said Songa. “We’re a top-performing affiliate, and this visit is a testament to that. Our CEO, Sekou Amadou Bah, has created an environment where staff thrive, and this new shareholder initiative takes it even further.”
Orange Sierra Leone CEO, Sekou Amadou Bah, officially launched the Employee Shareholder Program, calling it a historic milestone for the company. He acknowledged the pivotal role of Elisabeth Medou Badang in shaping the vision and implementation of the program.
“This program reflects our strong belief that employees are at the heart of our success,” Bah stated. “With this initiative, we are not only recognizing your hard work but inviting you to share in the company’s future prosperity as shareholders.”
Bah explained that the program enables employees to acquire shares in Orange Sierra Leone, aligning their personal success with the company’s growth. The initiative is expected to enhance employee morale, accountability, and loyalty.
In her keynote address, Elisabeth Medou Badang praised the program as a “bold and visionary step” that reinforces Orange Sierra Leone’s leadership within the MEA region. She commended the team’s exceptional achievements in employee engagement, innovation, and financial performance.
“I’m incredibly proud of what you have accomplished in Sierra Leone,” she said. “You consistently rank at the top in engagement and satisfaction across the MEA region, and now you are leading again with this employee ownership program. This is your company. As Orange grows, so will your wealth—not just through salaries, but through dividends and shared success.”
Medou Badang described the program’s launch as a powerful symbol of trust, empowering staff to become co-creators of value in a company that belongs to them, both in spirit and ownership.
She also took the opportunity to praise the warmth and hospitality of the Sierra Leonean people, sharing how the country made a remarkable impression from her arrival. She urged employees to maintain the culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration that has established Orange Sierra Leone as a model affiliate.
“This is your company, your home, and your legacy,” she said. “Continue to build it with pride, commitment, and unity. The sky is not the limit—the sky is your next starting point.”
The launch of the Employee Shareholder Program is expected to inspire similar initiatives across the Orange Group’s operations in Africa and the Middle East, marking a new chapter in employee-centered corporate leadership.