President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has issued Executive Order No. 154, immediately suspending the contract between the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and Telecom International Alliance (TIA) for Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring Services. The decision follows damning audit and investigation reports from the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), both of which found serious irregularities and evidence of fraud in the award and execution of the contract.
According to the findings, the contract was awarded to TIA against the recommendations of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), in violation of Section 32 of the PPCC Act of 2010. It was further revealed that TIA was established in the State of Delaware, USA, only four days after receiving the bid documents, and was later incorporated in Liberia nearly ten months after being awarded the contract. Additionally, the contract terms were altered to grant TIA 49% of revenue, up from the 35% proposed in its bid, and later extended by 20 years without justification or demonstrated value for money.
In line with the Executive Order, the LTA has been directed to cease all further implementation of the TIA contract, while the Ministry of Justice is instructed to pursue the matter in accordance with the Penal Code and the rule of law. Recognizing the national security and financial implications of telecommunications traffic monitoring, President Boakai has directed that the LTA and PPCC immediately engage a qualified service provider in compliance with procurement laws to ensure continuity of service. The Executive Branch will also notify the Legislature and seek appropriate legislative action to de-ratify any prior enactments relating to the suspended contract.
President Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, emphasizing that the government will not tolerate corruption or the abuse of public trust. “The Government of Liberia will continue to take decisive actions to safeguard national resources and ensure that all public contracts serve the best interest of the Liberian people,” President Boakai stated.
