The Liberian Senate has rejected President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s request to de-ratify a controversial telecommunications monitoring contract with U.S.-linked firm Telecom International Alliance (TIA), warning that cancellation could expose the country to costly arbitration and undermine investor confidence.
The agreement, signed through the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), grants TIA responsibility for monitoring voice, data, and mobile-money traffic, as well as providing revenue assurance services. Originally entered into in 2018, the deal was amended and ratified by the Legislature in 2022, extending TIA’s role for an additional 20 years.
Presidential Concerns
On November 13, President Boakai suspended implementation of the concession through Executive Order No. 154, citing alleged procurement fraud and violations of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Act of 2010. He argued that TIA was incorporated in Delaware just days after receiving bid documents and registered in Liberia months after the contract was awarded. Boakai also questioned the increase in TIA’s revenue share from 35 percent to 49 percent.
Further research has confirmed that TIA Liberia is owned by TIA, LLC in Florida, United States, with its registered business address belonging to Elan and Adam Cohen—the current heads of LISCR, the Liberia Shipping Registry, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Senate Committee Findings
Following public hearings with key institutions—including the Ministry of Justice, the General Auditing Commission, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Liberia Revenue Authority—the Senate’s Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims & Petitions, and Post & Telecommunications concluded that the dispute should be addressed through renegotiation rather than cancellation.
The committee noted that the contract, ratified by the Legislature and signed by the President, contains a binding dispute resolution clause requiring arbitration under the International Chamber of Commerce in London. It warned that pursuing de-ratification could trigger lengthy and expensive arbitration proceedings.
Constitutional and Legal Considerations
The committee emphasized that Liberia’s Constitution prohibits impairment of contractual obligations and guarantees due process. It argued that attempts to cancel the contract without following established procedures under the PPCC Act risked violating both constitutional protections and Supreme Court precedents.
“The government should pursue the path of renegotiation rather than de-ratification,” the committee recommended, stressing that renegotiation would safeguard Liberia against arbitration costs, uphold investor confidence, and align with legal frameworks.
A motion calling for renegotiation was filed by Senator Edwin Snowe of Bomi County. The Senate is expected to formally communicate its decision to President Boakai in the coming days.
The contract between the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and Telecom International Alliance (TIA) for traffic monitoring services is valued at approximately US$50 million to US$140 million over its lifetime, depending on revenue estimates and audit findings.
