10,000 Youth Digital Training Program Implementation: Conflicted?

 In order for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to showcase some of his campaign promises made during the 2023 elections, he accepted a proposal to sponsor the establishment of the Liberia Digital Transformation Project to benefit the overwhelming youthful population of the country. The project inculcates the provision of greater opportunities for thousands of Liberian youths to achieve new skills in Digital Technology training under the Unity Party-led government. The Digital Technology Training targets e-commerce software development Digital Marketing, Introduction to Computer Science and IT Management and other noteworthy courses to be achieved. The project is being organized by the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), Ministry of Youth and Sports, Liberia Posts and Telecommunications (LPT), and Ministry of Education in collaboration with international partners. It recently kicked off in Monrovia for over ten thousand Liberian students. In recent time, the Management of the Liberia Digital Transformation Project disclosed a planned graduation   for several thousands of students; especially unskilled youths who are said to have completed two-week long intensive courses. Though the project is being embraced by the youthful population who are eager to become digital technology literate, qualms are said to be developing in many quarters over the manner and form of the project implementation. Critics have observed that  lead implementer- the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) is displaying conflict of interest, pinpointing at LTA Chairperson Abdullaih  Kamara’s  preferment of  NETLIB, his vocational school as one of the institutions to implement the project. Located in Oldest Congo Town on the Tubman Boulevard, NETLIB is owned by Mr. Kamara who chairs the LTA. However,  the identification of facilities for the implementation of the project; particularly, selecting NETLIB for implementing the project appears to contravene good governance practices; especially when the UP-led government continues to swank that due diligence, transparency and accountability in serving the public remain a core value to showcase. It remains unclear whether selecting training facilities for implementing the project passed through the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) bidding process to avoid any act of conflict of interest or undue diligence in awarding selected institutions for the project implementation contract. Whether using NETLIB to implement the Digital Technology Project comes in conflict with the PPCC mandate, knowledgeable and well- suited contract award experts have indicated that Mr. Kamara served during Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf regime as Commissioner at the LTA, and should take cue from what entangled former LTA Chairperson- Albert Bropleh at the time.  Accordingly, Mr. Bropleh was indicted and convicted by the Circuit Court in Tubmanburg, Bomi County for corruption while serving as LTA Chairperson during the regime of Madam Sirleaf. He was also linked to having ownership of a wireless IT-related company operating in Liberia while heading the LTA, something critics said was a glaring ‘conflict of interest.’  Meanwhile, some youths who have taken advantage of the training program have reportedly complained of lapses, some claiming of insufficient time allotted for the training. Others claimed that they were promised per diems and laptops but none of such assurances came to past. Boakai, Kamara, some beneficiaries