Published: February 6, 2026
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — The Liberian Senate has endorsed a recommendation to renegotiate, rather than de-ratify, a multimillion-dollar telecommunications monitoring concession involving Telecom International Alliance (TIA), citing constitutional due-process guarantees and contractual dispute-resolution provisions, despite a request from Joseph Nyuma Boakai to void the agreement over alleged procurement irregularities.
The Senate’s position follows a review by a Joint Committee of the Legislature, which concluded that while the Executive has raised serious concerns about the concession, unilateral de-ratification could violate both the contract’s dispute-settlement mechanism and protections under the 1986 Liberian Constitution.
In a Nov. 13, 2025, communication to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, President Boakai informed lawmakers that the Executive had suspended the TIA agreement with the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and requested legislative ratification.
The President alleged that the concession was awarded in violation of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act, citing claims that required procurement steps were bypassed. His letter also raised questions about TIA’s corporate status at the time of bidding and subsequent changes to the revenue-sharing formula.
According to the communication, the revenue share allocated to TIA increased from an initial 35 percent to 49 percent, and the contract term was extended by 20 years without demonstrated value for money—actions the Executive described as evidence of fraud and grounds for declaring the contract void.
The Senate referred the matter to a Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions, and Post and Telecommunications, which convened a public hearing involving the General Auditing Commission, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Revenue Authority, the LTA, and TIA.
Most government institutions testifying, including the GAC, PPCC, LACC, and Justice Ministry, supported the President’s call for de-ratification, citing alleged procurement violations and estimating more than US$50 million in foregone government revenue. The LRA, however, urged caution, warning that abrupt termination could disrupt revenue flows.
TIA Managing Director William F. Saamoi Jr. rejected the fraud allegations and called for renegotiation rather than cancellation.
“This is not an adversarial appearance,” Saamoi told lawmakers. “We support government oversight and believe any concerns can be resolved within the framework of the existing agreement.”
He cited a 2024 legal review by the Justice Ministry that he said affirmed the legality of the concession and its subsequent addenda, adding that the monitoring system has generated significant telecom revenue and strengthened fraud detection.
In its report, the Joint Committee characterized the dispute as a contractual disagreement subject to established legal remedies, rather than a matter for legislative nullification.
The committee referenced Clause 21.2 of the agreement, which mandates dispute settlement procedures, as well as Article 20(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees due process of law. It also cited Article 25, which bars impairment of contractual obligations.
On that basis, the committee recommended renegotiation as the legally sound course.
Presenting the report, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Augustine S. Chea argued that once a concession is ratified, the Legislature’s role is exhausted.
“Ratification is not a continuing power,” Chea said, describing the process as functus officio.
Other senators expressed differing views. Samuel G. Kogar said the Executive could seek de-ratification but warned of broader implications for investor confidence. Edwin Melvin Snowe supported renegotiation as a pragmatic solution.
A majority of senators endorsed the committee’s recommendation.
The Senate is expected to formally notify the House of Representatives, which had earlier voted to re-ratify the agreement. If the two chambers fail to agree, the matter will proceed to a conference committee before being returned to the Executive for further action.
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