The Plenary of the House of Representatives has asked its relevant committees to peruse a communication requesting the august body to de-ratify a Concession Agreement between the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) and the Telecom International Alliance (TIA).
In his communication, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai informs members of the Legislature about the decision taken by the Executive to suspend the LTA and TIA Concession Agreement for Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring Services, was based on the identification of multiple statutory and procedural violations.
This follows investigative findings of the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and the Board of Commissioners of the LTA:
- The contract was awarded in contravention of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Act of 2010.
- All required legal procurement processes were bypassed.
- TIA was incorporated in the State of Delaware, USA, only four
(4)Days after receiving bid documents, and registered in Liberia ten
(10) Months after the contract was awarded. - The revenue share granted to TIA was increased to 49%, despite its Initial bid proposing 35%
- The contract was extended for an additional twenty (20) years
Without demonstrable value for money. - Fraud was established in the procurement process, rendering the
โContract void ab initio.
In light of these findings, and pursuant to the Executive Order issued under my authority as President of the Republic of Liberia, I request that the Legislature take appropriate legislative action to de-ratify any prior Legislation or endorsement relating to the aforementioned Concessionโ. The President stated in his communication.
Following the reading, in its 11th Day sitting of the 3rd Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature on Thursday, 20 November; Plenary mandated the Committees on Investment and Concession, Post and Telecommunication, and Judiciary to look into the instrument and advise the full body in two weeks.
