The Senate has declined to confirm Clarence Massaquoi as Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, citing statutory provisions related to the appointment process that render him ineligible for the role.
Massaquoi was nominated by President Joseph Boakai to serve as Chairman of the LTA, following the suspension of Acting Chairman Abdullah Kamara due to corruption allegations connected to his former employer. However, Kamara was later cleared of all charges by Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge after a hearing.
Despite initial reports suggesting that Massaquoi’s confirmation was likely, the Senate ultimately rejected his nomination based on applicable laws governing the LTA.
Senators argued that they lack the legal authority to confirm the Chairman of the LTA, as established in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of the LTA Act. Section 9.1 states, “The President shall appoint five commissioners,” while Section 9.2 indicates, “After appointment, the President shall designate one of the five commissioners as Chairman, or the commissioners may select a Chairperson among themselves.”
Notably, the Act does not stipulate a requirement for Senate confirmation of the Chairman’s designation.
Given these legal provisions, several senators maintained that their role is limited to confirming the commissioners nominated by the President, rather than the Chairman.
They emphasized that any of the confirmed commissioners could be designated as Chairperson without further approval from the legislative body.
Consequently, the Senate confirmed the four remaining LTA commissioners but excluded Massaquoi from the confirmation process, asserting that his designation as Chairman falls outside their constitutional authority.
Massaquoi may have the opportunity to seek confirmation in the future if the President renominates him as a commissioner of the LTA, after which he could be appointed as Chairman by the President with the Senate’s endorsement.
In light of the current situation, advocates are calling for reforms at the LTA to stabilize and clarify the organization’s governance and operational structures.
These reforms aim to adapt to evolving technological and regulatory landscapes, while also addressing critical issues such as employment opportunities for youth, staff realignment in line with basic industry competency and qualification requirements, salary disparities, and the establishment of a more equitable remuneration framework.
