By Fiona Benson
The House of Representatives has received a communication from Presidents Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The Boakai’s communication seeks the de-ratification of the Telecom International Alliance (TIA) contractual agreement with the government.
It cited several critical breaches, and red flags associated with the TIA agreement.
The President took the decision to de-ratify the contract amid mounting concerns over irregularities, and possible fraud over the years by TIA.
On Monday, December 8, House Joint Committee on Post and Telecommunication, Investment and Concession, and Judiciary, convened its first public hearing on the proposed de-ratification of TIA contractual agreement with the government.
The Committee is chaired by Margibi County District #2 Representative Ivar K. Jones.
Three major oversight institutions, including the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) appeared before the Joint Committee and provided testimony.
The GAC reported several critical breaches, and red flags associated with the TIA agreement, including: no procurement process was undertaken prior to the signing of the contract.
The parent company associated with TIA was registered in August 2018, three days after the agreement had already been signed, raising concerns about due diligence and legitimacy.
TIA failed to submit mandatory monthly reports to the LTA as required by regulatory standards.
These findings strongly align with Pres. Boakai’s assertions of procedural violations, and potential fraud in the execution of the contract.
Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) informed the Committee that no objection or approval documents relating to the TIA contract were ever submitted to the Commission.
The Commission said the Agreement did not undergo the required procurement vetting process mandated under law.
LTA Chairperson, Clarence Massaquoi, said the Authority does not possess the original copy of the TIA contract.
Massaquoi issued an apology to lawmakers for the lapse in record-keeping, and formally urged the legislature to move forward with the de-ratification of the Agreement.
He revealed that a resolution relating to the TIA contract had been endorsed by four of the five LTA Commissioners, signaling internal consensus on the need for corrective action.
Committee Intensifies Scrutiny
Members of the Joint Committee engaged witnesses with extensive questioning, and have requested additional documentation to aid the ongoing investigation.
Lawmakers spoke of their commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and full compliance with national procurement and regulatory standards.
The Joint Committee announced that the next public hearing will be held on Wednesday, December 17, during which the Minister of Justice, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and TIA representatives are expected to appear.
The Legislature reaffirmed its dedication to upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding national interests as the review process continues.