“Bring Back Our Data” Campaign Heats Up -As Liberians Petition LTA to Address Unjust Internet Price Hike

MONROVIA – With barely a year in office, the Joseph Nyuma Boakai administration has encountered the wrath of angry citizens who have launched a peaceful protest against unilateral hikes in Internet price by GSM companies while the state regulator Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) sits supinely.  The citizens converging under the “WE THE PEOPLE” banner marched from ELWA Road by 8:00am and converged at LTA head office downtown Monrovia where they displayed placards and presented their petition to the LTA authorities through the LTA Chairman Abdullai Kamara.

According to the WE THE PEOPLE campaigners, an organization that comprises downtrodden men and women all across Liberia, the Monday, December 16, 2024 and Tuesday, December 17, 2024 protests are in demand for the LTA to immediately restore affordable internet data and the reinstatement of three days of free calls.

“In a country already dealing with severe poverty and staggering unemployment rates, the recent hike in internet data prices is not just an inconvenience – it is a profound injustice. For many Liberians, affordable internet access is a lifeline for education, employment opportunities, and staying connected with loved ones. The abrupt increase in data costs, especially during this Christmas Season, has plunged countless families into deeper financial distress, stripping away a critical resource that should be accessible to all,” the WE THE PEOPLE campaigners declared in a Press Statement Monday.

The Demands

The WE THE PEOPLE campaigners are therefore demanding that the government and the LTA take immediate action to restore internet data prices to pre-December 9 levels, where $5 provided 15 GB and $3 provided 12 GB. “These prices were manageable for many households, and the current hikes are unsustainable,” the statement indicated.

Continuing, the campaigners called on the LTA to enforce a fair floor price for internet data, ensuring that telecommunications companies do not exploit consumers. “It is imperative that regulatory duties are performed with the public’s best interests in mind,” the Campaigners stated.

The WE THE PEOPLE campaigners also demanded trans[arency and fairness in all promotional activities to ensure consumers get genuine value for their value.

Finally, the Campaigners demanded reinstatement of the three days of free calls which they said is crucial for families who rely on this service for maintaining communication. “It is a basic necessity that must be restored,” the Campaigners demanded.

“This is a fight for our rights, for our dignity, and for the future of our nation. Let us come together in solidarity, raise our voices, and demand the change we deserve. Together, we can compel our leaders to bring back our data and restore fairness in our telecommunications industry,” the Campaigners reasoned in their petition statement.

According to the Campaign organizers, Mr. Titus B. Pakalah, who spoke with The Analyst minutes after the presentation of their petition, the LTA is keen on meeting the citizens’ demands, as there has been a noticeable reduction in internet data price since the launch of the Bring Back Our Data Campaign.