–CENTAL Recommends, But LTA Boss Reacts
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. to do the needful to send a stern warning against corruption and abuse of office by taking timely and decisive administrative actions against officials found wanting.
In a statement issued Tuesday, November 26, 2024, CENTAL said the President must remove Abdullai Kamara as Acting Chairperson of Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), dismiss Dorr Cooper, Inspector General of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and act against others accused of grave acts of corruption and other abuses. Also, CENTAL called on the President to suspend and dismiss public officials who have knowingly and recklessly refused to declare their assets, incomes and liabilities, in violation of the Code of Conduct.
According to the statement, an audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) reveals that Abdullai Kamara, the current Acting Chair of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), was embroiled in violation of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) Law when he served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TAMMA Corporation. The GAC audit found that payments totaling L$262,844,500 and US$450,000 were made to TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data Incorporated without adherence to procurement protocols or documentation.
“In the face of this damming report from the GAC, CENTAL is surprised that no public action, including investigation or otherwise, has since been taken against Mr. Kamara. As far as we know, Mr. Kamara still enjoys the confidence of the presidency, as long as he continues to serve at the LTA, the same institution whose resources he is accused of joining ranks with key members of the previous administration to pillage. Ironically, early this year, the President swiftly acted on allegations of corruption at LTA to suspend the former board of commissioners and made new appointments. How come the President has not acted on GAC’s report on the same LTA implicating Mr. Kamara is a mystery. It is also further concerning that Mr. Kamara and the other commissioners of the LTA continue to serve in an acting capacity and enjoy all benefits appertaining to the office, since April 2024. We believe that this action is counter-productive, especially in the face of GAC audit findings regarding suspended LTA officials and Mr. Kamara. There is a need for definite position of the President regarding the LTA,” the statement noted.
Similarly, CENTAL noted, in the weeks following the commencement convocation of the University of Liberia (UL), Commerce Inspector General, Dorr Cooper, was said to have dressed up in the official graduation regalia, proceeded for the commencement convocation, but could not find his name in the program as a graduate.
“This situation drew public attention, especially so that a highly-placed public official would attempt to defraud the University by graduating, even though he did not complete the courses required for graduation. Following an investigation into the matter by authorities of the university, Mr. Cooper was found guilty of fraud and recommended for prosecution.
“Despite the gravity of the incident and the findings from the investigation, based upon which UL authorities dismissed and suspended some employees, Mr. Cooper has not been dismissed by the President, neither has he been prosecuted. We wonder why.
“Officials of the ruling Unity Party (UP) appointed by the President, including the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC), and Secretary General of the UP, Mr. Amos Tweh, and National Port Authority (NPA) Board Chair and National Chairman of the UP, Rev. Luther Tarpeh, amongst others, are being pressured by the Office of Ombudsman to relinquish one position to avoid violation of the Code of Conduct for public officials.
“The Unity Party (UP) and the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) objected to the position of the ombudsman, through a petition to the Supreme Court of Liberia to halt the enforcement of said portion of the Code of Conduct. In a ruling, the Supreme Court has upheld the enforcement of the code of conduct against officials of government occupying political party positions.
“As majority of the officials concerned have not honored the affirmed Ombudsman’s decision, again, the President is yet to publicly demand the officials concerned to relinquish one of their positions.
“These and other developments significantly undermine the fight against corruption and President’s anti-corruption agenda, despite some positive efforts at other ends. If anything, the President must build upon his positive efforts to send stronger messages to government officials, citizens and development partners about his commitment to pursue a robust, transparent, public-interest-driven and an impartial fight against corruption, waste and other misdeeds in government. The President’s apparent shielding of some officials, relative selective actions against persons accused of wrongdoing in his administration, and slow pace of actions/decision-making on critical matters run contrary to his anti-corruption promises.”
CENTAL emphasized that impunity for corruption, fueled largely by limited political will and/or the lack of strong presidential willpower, has been a major stumbling block to credible, impartial, and robust anti-corruption efforts in the country.
“As a result, public sector corruption remains high, as Liberia scored 25 out of 100 on the 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International, a huge decline from 32 in 2018. This is not surprising, as CENTAL’s 2023 State of Corruption Report shows that over 90% of Liberians believe that corruption level in government is very high and that their government is not doing enough to tackle it,” the statement further noted.
The transparency group underscored that the President must compel his officials to comply with the mandate of the Office of Ombudsman; show leadership by timely and decisively acting on crucial matters, including those bordering on the fight against corruption; and provide adequate moral and financial support to anti-graft institutions to operate at full capacity.
“As of August 2024, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) reported that over 70% of officials appointed by President Boakai have refused to declare their assets, incomes and liabilities. Unfortunately, such wanton disregard for a very crucial transparency and accountability process in government has not claimed the attention of President Boakai, as he is yet to warn, suspend and even dismiss the non-compliant officials. This is highly troubling, as it undermines the president’s anti-corruption commitment,” CENTAL’s statement, read by its Executive Director, Anderson Miamen, observed.
However, when contacted by the Hot Pepper, the Acting Chairperson of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Abdullah Kamara, described CENTAL’s statement as mere politics and blackmail.
Acting Chairperson Kamara wondered when it became a crime from a private company to do legitimate business with government, or how the errors of a government institution became the fault of a private entity.
He accused CENTAL of rumoring that he does not want to talk to them. According to him, CENTAL went to the extent of creating an animated video to amplify the issues associated with his company in the audit only to blackmail him and tarnish his hard-earned reputation.
“I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear…I know it’s all blackmailing and politics, but I don’t have time for that nonsense. I have plenty of work to deliver on,” Acting LTA Chairperson Kamara reacted.