A review of the General Auditing Commission’s (GAC) audit of the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) concerning the Special Investigation into the Liberia Digital Transformation Project (LDTP) from January 1 to December 31, 2023, indicates procedural irregularities in selecting implementing companies rather than financial misconduct or criminal impropriety, as has been widely speculated.
The audit report ignited political controversy when: on one hand used as basis to remove the George Weah-era officials who were tenure holders and current officials from the Unity Party Alliance including Mohammed Ali, Amos Tweh, and Senator Abraham Darius Dillon requested that the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) pursue legal action, with Acting LTA Chairman Abdullah Kamara reportedly being a key target.
Kamara appears to have close proximity to President Joseph Boakai and perceived by some party hardliners as an outsider.
His company was referenced in the audit, raising questions over the LTA management’s procurement processes during the Weah administration.
Kamara was however not in any position at the LTA when his company was selected, and the audit does not implicate him in any wrongdoing relating to his current role.
On June 16, President Joseph Boakai suspended Kamara, with statement published on the presidency website citing “serious allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.”
In response, Kamara welcomed his suspension and urged the president to expedite the LACC’s investigation in order to clear his name.
The GAC’s report predominantly highlighted procedural concerns regarding the hiring of Kamara’s firm, TAMMA Corp., in June 2023, and made no claims of financial mismanagement involving the company.
That same month, the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs directed the LTA to fund the LDTP, which initially awarded the contract to TAMMA Corp.
In September 2023, the ministry instructed the LTA to incorporate 231 Data Incorporated as an additional implementing partner.
Subsequently, the LTA disbursed $450,000 and 262,844,500 Liberian dollars to the Liberia Digital Transformation Account for distribution to both TAMMA Corp. and 231 Data Incorporated, with $440,000 and 264,500 Liberian dollars allocated respectively.
However, the GAC found no evidence of contracts signed with either TAMMA Corp. or 231 Data Incorporated in relation to the LDTP. The lack of project documentation such as a defined scope, timeline, potential impact, budget, and work plan impeded the ability to effectively assess the implementation of project activities, GAC said.
In its defense, the Weah’s era LTA explained that the urgency of the presidential mandate to expedite the digital transformation initiative necessitated streamlined procedures for selecting implementing partners with established expertise and proven track records, foregoing the standard documentation usually required.
While acknowledging the absence of formal contracts, LTA management stated that interim agreements were established with the implementing partners to outline the scope of work, timelines, and expected deliverables.
The Auditor General has committed to revisiting these issues in subsequent audits.
