Boakai Urged To Intervene At Lta

MONROVIA – Several contractors at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) are quietly voicing frustration over prolonged service without permanent employment, while also urging President Joseph Boakai to intervene amid allegations of corruption at the entity.

Employees and contractors told journalists last week who were invited to write promotional stories in favor of LTA Chairman Clarance Massaquoi. During the visit, LTA officials led reporters on a tour of the fiber cable point near the Barclay Training Center and later to Broad Street by the United Bank for Africa. Later an official from the LTA informed journalists that the chairman abruptly ended the tour, citing a call from the Executive Mansion to meet the President.

But employees insist the fiber cable project was completed under former LTA Chairperson Angelique Weeks.

“Most of that work was done during Madam Weeks’ administration and other commissioners. Commissioner Massaquoi is only got there recently. We think he is only trying to claim credit,” one employee who asked for name to remain undisclosed said.

Contractors further alleged that Massaquoi’s public displays are meant to impress the President while concealing deeper issues.

“We have been here for over a year as contractors. Each time we ask about permanent employment, they say there is no money. Yet we see how much revenue is coming in,” one contractor confided.

Fearful of retaliation, some workers said they are “just managing” to avoid dismissal.

When LTA was contacted, an official who also declined to be named said: “we are gradually absorbing them into the system. But do not mind that noise. Only few of them are causing that noise. Write something more important and start thinking about those people.”

The LTA, established under the Telecommunications Act of 2007, is mandated to regulate Liberia’s telecom sector. It is managed by five commissioners appointed by the President, each serving a fouryear term.

In recent months, the Authority has faced mounting criticism. Allegations surfaced that commissioners received illegal payments from NMBTEL, a company contracted for three years to monitor telecom traffic. Journalist Alfred Togba accused the LTA of funneling money to NMBTEL despite the company performing little or no work in the past six months.

Chairman Massaquoi has denied wrongdoing, insisting that NMBTEL has fulfilled its obligations.

In response to the growing allegations, Liberia AntiCorruption Commission (LACC) Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe confirmed that the Commission is assessing whether to launch a formal investigation into the LTA’s financial dealings.