MONROVIA – A growing dispute over the Government’s attempt to halt implementation of a ratified telecommunications agreement is fueling broader concerns about respect for the rule of law and investor confidence in Liberia. Senators Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. and Amara M. Konneh argue that disagreements over concession agreements should be resolved through established legal mechanisms rather than executive action. They warn that inconsistent legal interpretations and efforts to reverse ratified agreements risk undermining constitutional safeguards governing investment. As THE ANALYST reports, the controversy has intensified debate over contract governance, institutional credibility, and Liberia’s commitment to predictable commercial policies.
Senators Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. of Bomi County and Amara M. Konneh of Gbarpolu County have criticized what they describe as the Government’s effort to halt implementation of the ratified Telecommunications International Alliance (TIA) agreement, warning that attempts to reverse legally approved investment agreements could undermine the rule of law and weaken investor confidence in Liberia.
The controversy centers on a 2024 agreement between the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the United States-based Telecommunications International Alliance (TIA), which authorizes the company to oversee and monitor Liberia’s incoming and outgoing international telecommunications traffic.
The Government has moved to stop implementation of the agreement, citing alleged irregularities in the contracting process. However, the senators argue that any concerns surrounding the agreement should be addressed through legal procedures rather than executive action.
Appearing on OK Conversation last week, Snowe and Konneh expressed concern that inconsistent legal interpretations and politically influenced decisions are eroding confidence in Liberia’s legal and investment environment.
Snowe Questions Legal Approach
Snowe pointed to what he described as conflicting legal opinions issued by the Ministry of Justice regarding the agreement, as well as questions surrounding the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission’s no-objection letter.
“At one point, the opinion from the Ministry of Justice said it was wrong. Then another opinion came and said it was right. Then another came again,” Snowe observed.
“When we personalize things and make it look like for Julius it is prohibited, and for Edwin Snowe it is right, then we have a problem.”
The senator rejected suggestions that the agreement could simply be “de-ratified,” maintaining that Liberia’s laws provide no basis for reversing a contract that has already been ratified by the Legislature.
According to Snowe, once an agreement has been ratified, it enjoys constitutional protection and may only be addressed through renegotiation, arbitration, or other legal mechanisms provided under the contract itself.
“The Liberian Senate said there is nothing in our jurisprudence that allows us to de-ratify a ratified agreement,” he stated.
Investor Confidence At Stake
Snowe cautioned that overturning ratified agreements outside established legal procedures could damage Liberia’s international reputation and discourage foreign investment.
While acknowledging concerns about how the agreement was executed, both lawmakers maintained that any disputes should be resolved strictly within the framework of the law.
“If you are not comfortable with a legal document, there are procedures under the law to address it,” Snowe said. “Call the parties, use the clauses in the contract, or go to arbitration. But to just say de-ratify it, that is not something we have done before.”
The senator further stressed the importance of respecting public institutions regardless of political differences.
“You may not like someone, but you must respect the office. I didn’t vote for the President, but that doesn’t mean I should not respect the presidency,” he remarked.
Snowe also linked the TIA dispute to previous controversies involving MedTech, the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), and Western Cluster, arguing that Liberia continues to struggle with consistency in contract governance.
The lawmakers warned that unless government consistently upholds the rule of law and due process, the country’s broader economic reform agenda and investment climate will remain vulnerable to political uncertainty and institutional conflict.