Monrovia – Senate Committee on Telecommunication has forwarded several recommendations to plenary on the decision of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority to waive fines owe the Liberian government by cell phone companies in the amount of US$200 million.
Report by: Henry Karmo – [email protected]
The committee recommendations came in the wake of an investigation conducted under the mandate of plenary. In the report the committee said, during its investigation several issues including violation was uncovered according to the committee chair, Senator Nyounblee Karnga Lawrence of Grand Bassa County.
Among many issues according to the committee it was not established as to who gave LTA the Authority to negotiate the fines on behalf of the Government and where the fines were paid.
The committee report stated furthered that LTA informed them that fines were negotiated after consultation with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Senator Karnga Lawrence told the body that the LTA informed them that it was difficult to impose fines in accordance to the regulation because the government has not met up with their obligations to ensure that every citizen has an identity and other challenges listed previously which are all government obligations.
The committee said: “LTA also informed us that based on the challenges, which are due to government not delivering on its obligation; LTA finds itself in a very difficult position to accurately charge fines for the violation of the process.”
Among many things the senate committee is recommending that the plenary of the Liberian senate mandates its committees on Ways, Means and Finance, Telecommunications and Internal Affairs to investigate the financial reports of the LTA and study the request for equipment international due payment for budget adjustment.
The report will provide justification that the equipment will increase efficiency and effectiveness in the regulation process and will also increase revenue for the country’s benefit.
The committee will also meet with the commissioner General of LRA and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to confirm that the authority was given the LTA to negotiate fines.
The committee is also recommending that that the LTA revisit the policy of fines payment and include a clause for adjustment as it relates to the challenges until government meets its obligations.
Last month Mr. Sebastian Muah, Managing Director of the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (Libtelco) told members of the Senate Committee on Post and Telecommunications that political pressure led to the cancellation of the purchase deal between Novafone and Libtelco.
Mr. Muah made the disclosure when he appeared before the senate committee on Post and Telecommunications Committee chaired by Senator Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence of Grand Bassa County.
His appearance was a result of a mandate given by the plenary of the Senate. The Senate reached a unanimous decision in early May to halt ongoing discussions by Libtelco to purchase cellular company, Novafone.
The Senate’s decision, according to a motion; is aimed at giving the Committee on Post and Telecommunications the chance to gather the needed information relating to discussions surrounding the alleged US$10M purchase of Novafone by Libtelco.