Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Boakai’s actions will either reinforce or weaken Liberia’s commitment to accountability at this pivotal moment in the country’s battle against corruption. Given the latest situation surrounding the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and its interim chairman, Mr. Abdullah Kamara, decisive leadership is needed.
The President cannot afford to overlook the startling revelations that connect Kamara’s company, TAMMA Corporation, to financial misbehavior. It might be viewed as a dangerous signal that the battle on corruption justifies the replacement of dishonest personnel in the political sphere with cronies if Kamara is not suspended and is not given a full investigation.
After President Boakai controversially suspended the previous board due to significant financial malfeasance, which included the then-chairperson and all commissioners, Kamara was promoted to Acting Chairperson. But now Kamara is being accused of profiting from the identical corruption investigation that resulted in the removal of his predecessor. Without appropriate contracts, procurement procedures, or recorded work, his business, TAMMA Corporation, and 231 Data Incorporated, earned millions of dollars in both Liberia and the United States, according to The Liberian Investigator. These violations amount to more than just little breaches; they show a flagrant disdain for the Public Procurement and Concessions Act and misappropriation of public monies.
Although Kamara was reportedly not in charge of the LTA when these contentious contracts were given out, that does not relieve him of any accountability. His firm is the focus of this audit since it was given large quantities of public funds without providing any documentation of its activities The Liberian Investigator reported.
Financial anarchy is depicted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), with millions of dollars going to TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data without any responsibility. With these unanswered accusations hovering over him, Kamara cannot continue to head the LTA in the midst of this national crisis.
It is imperative that the President realizes that retaining Kamara in his position in the absence of a comprehensive investigation compromises the credibility of the LTA and leaves his administration open to charges of double standards. How can Liberians believe President Boakai would end corruption if one of the main beneficiaries of this crime remains in office? Given that the current board was suspended in order to allow Kamara to stay, the President’s true goal seems to have been to remove the previous board with the help of his allies robbing Peter to pay Paul.
TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data were paid a total of L$262,844,500 and US$450,000, according to the GAC audit. Despite these astounding sums, no project paperwork, written contracts, or regular reports exist to support these payments the paper alarmed. Without a procurement procedure, how were these two businesses chosen by hand? Given that there is no documentation of work being done, why were millions paid out? Kamara had to respond to these inquiries in her capacity as CEO of TAMMA Corporation at the time.
“Kamara is involved in too much for us to overlook. It is a flagrant conflict of interest for him to be both the acting chairman of the organization in charge of these contracts and the former CEO of a business involved in this misconduct. It is perilous to create a precedent for governance when it is suggested that Kamara should continue to lead the LTA while his firm is under investigation. This fosters corruption and allows individuals in charge of guarding public monies to misuse their position of authority for their own benefit.”
President Boakai’s government may not be fully dedicated to accountability if it does not move quickly. Not only is suspending Kamara the right thing to do, but it’s also the only way to rebuild public confidence in the LTA and the President’s anti-corruption initiatives. Any action less than suspending the board and conducting a full inquiry would validate rumors that the President was trying to demolish the previous board in order to create space for his supporters.
As we observed with J. Aloysius Tarlue, the Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, we anticipate seeing Kamara suspended and the subject of a probe. The whole weight of this probe must likewise be placed on 231 Data Incorporated. The company’s role is equally concerning. The GAC audit claims that 231 Data got L$84 million (about US$435,000) between November 7, 2023, and November 15, 2023, during a crucial time of political change.
Serious concerns are raised by the fact that such a big quantity of money was paid without appropriate procurement or paperwork at this sensitive period. Should it turn out that 231 Data was paid for work that was never completed, it has to be held responsible and forced to reimburse all of the money.
The audit findings from the GAC require immediate response. Not only do the payments made to TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data violate procurement regulations, but they also breach the confidence of the public. Given that his business is at the core of this corruption, how can the President let Kamara to stay in his position? Without conducting an inquiry into how and why it earned L$84 million during the changeover, how can 231 Data carry on with its business?
Answers are due to the Liberian people. They should have a responsible government that doesn’t merely target those who lose popularity. The President has to suspend Kamara right once and start a thorough inquiry into 231 Data and TAMMA Corporation if he is sincere about accountability and openness. Should any business be proven to have accepted payment for work that was never completed, they will have to pay back every penny.
Liberia cannot afford to tolerate institutional corruption. To put the future of the nation in the hands of people and businesses involved in such grave financial wrongdoings would be to jeopardize the telecoms sector. The anti-corruption attitude of President Boakai needs to be proven to be more than just talk. He has this opportunity to demonstrate that everyone is subject to the law, even those who have ties to his government.
President Boakai need to take speedy action or ask Kamara on leave. TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data should be looked at. Return the pilfered money and demonstrate to the Liberian people that the Boakai administration is committed to reform. Anything less will be a betrayal of your ( President Boakai) word and a slight to the anti-corruption movement, now is the moment to act.
