President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has suspended the controversial contract between the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and Telecom International Alliance (TIA) following damning reports of fraud and irregularities from the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
The President’s decision, announced through Executive Order No. 154, immediately halts the LTA-TIA agreement for Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring Services, a deal now under intense public and legal scrutiny.
According to findings from the GAC and LACC, the contract was awarded in violation of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) Act of 2010, specifically Section 32, which mandates transparent and competitive procurement procedures. The reports revealed that TIA was registered in the U.S. State of Delaware only four days after obtaining the bid documents and was incorporated in Liberia nearly ten months after being granted the contract.
The investigation also uncovered that contract terms were later altered to increase TIA’s revenue share from 35% to 49%, and the agreement was extended by 20 years without justification or proof of value for money — raising serious concerns over governance and accountability in the telecommunications sector.
In response, President Boakai directed the LTA to cease all implementation activities under the contract, while instructing the Ministry of Justice to pursue the matter “in accordance with the Penal Code and the rule of law.”
Given the contract’s implications for national security and public finances, the President further mandated the LTA and PPCC to immediately engage a qualified and compliant service provider to ensure continuity of telecom traffic monitoring services.
The Executive Mansion noted that the President will also notify the Legislature to begin the process of de-ratifying any enactments related to the suspended deal.
President Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s “unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law,” emphasizing that corruption and abuse of public trust will not be tolerated.
“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,” the President stated.
The suspension marks a significant move in Boakai’s anti-corruption campaign, signaling a renewed push to restore integrity and public confidence in government procurement processes.
Author: Sangar Cooper
