Liberia is at a crossroads in its fight against corruption, and President Joseph Boakai’s actions will either solidify or undermine the country’s commitment to accountability. The latest scandal involving the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and its Acting Chairperson, Mr. Abdullah Kamara, demands decisive leadership. With damning revelations implicating Kamara’s company, TAMMA Corporation, in financial malfeasance, the President cannot afford to look the other way. Failure to suspend Kamara and subject him to a thorough investigation would send a dangerous message: that the fight against corruption is merely a convenient excuse to replace compromised officials with political cronies.
Kamara’s rise to Acting Chairperson came after President Boakai controversially suspended the previous board, including the then-chairperson and all the commissioners, over serious financial misconduct. Now, however, Kamara himself stands accused of benefiting from the very corruption probe that ousted his predecessor. His company, TAMMA Corporation, along with 231 Data Incorporated, received millions of Liberian and U.S. dollars without proper procurement processes, contracts, or documented work. These are not minor infractions; they represent a blatant disregard for the Public Procurement and Concessions Act and a misuse of public funds.
To be clear, Kamara was not the head of the LTA when these controversial contracts were awarded, but that does not absolve him of responsibility. His company is at the center of this audit, having received enormous sums of taxpayer money without proof of work. The General Auditing Commission (GAC) paints a picture of financial chaos—millions of dollars flowing to TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data without accountability. This is a national scandal, and Kamara cannot continue to lead the LTA with these unresolved allegations hanging over him.
The President must realize that leaving Kamara in his position without a full investigation compromises the integrity of the LTA and exposes his administration to charges of hypocrisy. How can the Liberian people trust President Boakai’s pledge to root out corruption if one of the key beneficiaries of this malfeasance remains in charge? Suspending the old board only to allow Kamara to stay suggests that the President’s true motive was to replace the previous board with his allies—robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The facts are undeniable. The GAC audit uncovered payments totaling L$262,844,500 and US$450,000 to TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data. Despite these staggering amounts, there is no record of signed contracts, project documentation, or periodic reports that would justify such disbursements. How were these two companies handpicked without a procurement process? Why were millions paid out when there is no proof of work completed? These are questions Kamara, as CEO of TAMMA Corporation at the time, must answer.
Kamara’s involvement is too deep to ignore. His dual role—as the former head of a company implicated in this corruption and now the Acting Chairperson of the very institution overseeing these contracts—is an egregious conflict of interest. The notion that Kamara should continue leading the LTA while his company is under investigation is absurd and sets a dangerous precedent for governance. It invites corruption, enabling those tasked with protecting public funds to abuse their power for personal gain.
President Boakai’s failure to act swiftly would suggest that his administration is not truly committed to accountability. Suspending Kamara is not only the correct course of action but the only one that can restore public trust in the LTA and the President’s anti-corruption agenda. Anything short of a suspension and thorough investigation would confirm suspicions that the President sought to dismantle the old board merely to make room for his loyalists.
As we saw with the Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, J. Aloysius Tarlue, so we expect to see with Kamara – suspend and subject to investigation.
Furthermore, 231 Data Incorporated must also face the full weight of this investigation. The company’s involvement is just as alarming. According to the GAC audit, 231 Data received L$84 million (approximately US$435,000) between November 7 and November 15, 2023—during a critical period of political transition. The fact that such a large sum of money was paid during this delicate time, without proper procurement or documentation, raises serious red flags. If 231 Data is found to have received payments for work not done, it must be held accountable and made to repay every cent.
The GAC’s audit findings demand urgent action. The payments made to TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data are not just violations of procurement laws—they are a betrayal of the public trust. How can the President allow Kamara to remain in his post, knowing his company is at the center of this corruption? How can 231 Data continue operating without an investigation into how and why it received L$84 million during the transition?
The Liberian people deserve answers. They deserve a government that holds all parties accountable, not just those who fall out of favor. If the President is truly committed to transparency and accountability, Kamara must be suspended immediately, and a full-scale investigation must be launched into both TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data. If either company is found guilty of receiving payments for work not done, they must be compelled to repay every cent.
Liberia cannot afford to let corruption fester in its institutions. The telecommunications sector is too vital to the country’s future to be left in the hands of individuals and companies implicated in such serious financial misdeeds. President Boakai must demonstrate that his anti-corruption stance is more than rhetoric. This is his moment to show that no one is above the law, not even those with connections to his administration.
President Boakai, the choice is clear. Act now. Suspend Kamara. Investigate TAMMA Corporation and 231 Data. Recover the stolen funds and prove to the Liberian people that your government is serious about reform. Anything less will be a betrayal of your promises and an insult to the fight against corruption. The time for action is now.
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