𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗣𝗖𝗖 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗜𝗔 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Mr. Dorbor Jallah, former Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), on Thursday appeared before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Post & Telecommunication; Investment & Concession; and Judiciary during its third public hearing on the proposed de-ratification of the Telecom International Alliance (TIA) concession agreement with the Government of Liberia.

During his clarification, Mr. Jallah explained that in 2018, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) submitted a procurement plan that received provisional approval, allowing the agency to begin traditional procurement activities. Mr. Jallah emphasized the following: Provisional Approval and Procurement Thresholds stating that entities conducting procurement activities above the legal threshold must obtain a “No Objection” from the PPCC for contract awards. 

He averred the 2018 provisional approval granted to the LTA allowed it to initiate procurement activities but did not authorize any specific contract awards. Jallah says the 2018 approval did not apply to concession-related activities. “Concession contracts require a separate concession procurement plan, which follows a distinct and legally mandated process”. He asserts. Mr. Jallah reiterated that the LTA’s 2018 submission was strictly for traditional procurement, not for concessions. The former PPCC ED outlined the proper legal procedures for concession procurement in Liberia: 

1. The process begins with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) issuing a Certificate of Concession, after reviewing the proposal to ensure it aligns with the national development agenda. 

2. Once the certificate is issued, the requesting agency develops a Concession Procurement Plan and submits it to the PPCC for formal approval. 

3. Upon approval by the PPCC, the President establishes an Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) to oversee the concessioning process under the National Investment Commission (NIC). Mr. Jallah reiterated that the 2018 letter was not authorization for any concession activity but merely permitted early procurement of items included in the draft national budget. 

The letter did not authorize any concession-related actions. He noted that he does not recall ever granting approval for any concession involving gateway monitoring, nor approving a contract for such service. He further confirmed that checks in his personal files revealed no record of concession approvals or concession procurement plans related to TIA. Following the hearing, the Joint Committee adjourned and reverted to its Committee Room for further deliberations. The Committee will present its formal report to Plenary for appropriate legislative action.