LTA Chairman Massaquoi Revenue Refusal: Cites Legal Disputes

• Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Board Chairman Clarence Massaquoi has declined to disclose the agency's past year's revenue collections.
• Massaquoi stated his accountability is solely to the President and cited ongoing legal disputes, including the Telecom International Alliance (TIA) contract, as reasons for not releasing financial figures.
• He defended the LTA's three-year contract with Numtel Liberia for call monitoring, confirming his personal visit to their established office.
• The chairman asserted that only legally empowered auditors or institutions, not the general public, can verify LTA accounts, and denied knowledge of any Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) investigation at the time, though the LACC has since confirmed it is assessing a formal complaint against the LTA.
• Critics argue that the refusal to disclose revenue undermines public trust and reignites debate over transparency in Liberia's telecom sector.

The chairman's stance has reignited public debate regarding transparency and accountability within Liberia's lucrative telecom sector, with critics asserting that withholding financial data erodes public trust.

The head of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Board, Clarence Massaquoi, has reiterated his refusal to publicly release the agency's revenue figures from the past year. Chairman Massaquoi asserted that his accountability is solely to the President, not directly to the Liberian populace, a position he articulated in a recent interview. He explicitly stated that he is not apprehensive about disclosure but questioned the identity of "the Liberians" to whom he should report, emphasizing his direct reporting line to the nation's highest office.

Massaquoi further explained that making such financial disclosures publicly could expose him to legal challenges. He cited ongoing legal disputes, specifically mentioning the suspended Telecom International Alliance (TIA) dispute contract, as a primary reason for his cautious approach. He reasoned that even without formal notification, it is prudent to consider such a matter an active and ongoing legal contention, making public commentary on revenue figures legally precarious.

Amidst the discussion surrounding LTA financial disclosure, Chairman Massaquoi also addressed the Numtel Liberia contract, defending the LTA's partnership with the company. Numtel Liberia has been engaged to monitor all telephone calls across the country for a three-year period. Massaquoi indicated that the government plans to assess Numtel's performance at the conclusion of this term before making any decisions about a potential contract extension.

The chairman confirmed that Numtel maintains an established office, noting his personal visit to the facility. While he promised to reveal the office's location after his interview, he did not immediately do so, pledging to provide the information later that week. He also clarified that although he, as chairman, had visited, the full LTA board had not. Massaquoi also dismissed suggestions that Numtel operates in isolation from Liberia's existing GSM operators. Regarding external oversight, he maintained that only authorized auditors or institutions legally empowered to access information are entitled to verify the LTA's financial records. He also stated he had no knowledge of any investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) at the time, though the LACC has since confirmed it is assessing a formal complaint against the LTA. affirming his willingness to provide any requested documents should the LACC issue a formal written request.

The firm stance taken by LTA Chairman Massaquoi revenue refusal has intensified the ongoing debate concerning Clarence Massaquoi transparency and accountability within Liberia's telecommunications sector. Critics contend that withholding revenue data undermines public confidence in an industry widely recognized as one of the nation's most profitable. This situation highlights potential governance and transparency risks that could attract increased scrutiny from anti-corruption bodies like the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission LACC or lead to future legal challenges regarding public accountability.

The chairman's remarks underscore a fundamental tension between institutional reporting lines and public expectations for transparency, particularly in sectors dealing with significant public revenue. The refusal to disclose financial specifics, even with justifications related to ongoing legal matters, continues to fuel public skepticism and calls for greater openness from government-affiliated entities. This scenario emphasizes the critical importance for entities operating within this sector to closely monitor regulatory transparency and potential compliance exposures.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Liberia's telecom sector should note the LTA Chairman's stance on revenue disclosure, as it signals potential governance and transparency risks that could lead to increased scrutiny from anti-corruption bodies like the LACC or future legal challenges regarding public accountability. This situation highlights the importance of monitoring regulatory transparency and potential compliance exposures for entities operating within this sector.

Source: Original reporting via The New Republic