LTA Opens Gbarnga Center -Massaquoi says decentralization will ease compliance

MONROVIA – Regulators rarely admit publicly that the sector they police is out of compliance. Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Chairman Clarence Massaquoi did so in Gbarnga. He conceded that several community radio stations, even in Monrovia, are technically non-compliant. His proposed remedy is proximity: bring licensing and complaints services closer to operators and subscribers. The new Consumer Support Center will hear grievances about network quality, data depletion and billing. Massaquoi also revealed that Liberia had lost its vote at the African Telecommunications Union over unpaid dues. The Board says it has now cleared those arrears after winning a waiver. As THE ANALYST reports, the center’s real test is whether mobile network operators actually feel its pressure.

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) on Friday officially opened a new Consumer Support Center in Gbarnga, Bong County. The center is part of a broader effort to decentralize the Authority’s operations and make telecommunications regulatory services more accessible across central Liberia.

Speaking at the dedication ceremony, LTA Chairman Clarence Massaquoi said the event was more than the opening of an office. “It is a promise made and promise delivered,” he said, adding that LTA is in the business of connecting people with possibilities.

Massaquoi said the decentralization drive is meant to remove barriers that keep operators outside the capital from complying with regulations.

He acknowledged that several community radio stations across the country, including some in Monrovia, are technically non-compliant.

He attributed part of the problem to the difficulty operators face in traveling to Monrovia to obtain licenses and other regulatory documents. The Gbarnga office, he explained, is intended to make that assistance available to broadcasters and telecommunications operators outside the capital.

Massaquoi Touts Board’s ATU Record

The chairman also used the occasion to point to the Board of Commissioners’ record. He said that when the current Board took over, LTA was not in good standing with the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and could not vote at international meetings, leaving it with observer status and little influence.

According to Massaquoi, the government owed the ATU more than US$500,000 (L$85.16 million). The Board negotiated and received a waiver of more than US$400,000 (L$68.13 million), then immediately paid the remaining balance. He said LTA’s ATU membership is now fully established, with all the privileges that come with it.

Massaquoi said LTA is now left with 10 schools to complete its goal of connecting 156 public high schools to high-speed internet. He added that the Authority recently launched its first-ever infrastructure regulation.

Consumers Can Now Complain Locally

Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Public Affairs and Universal Access Patrick Honnah said the center will let consumers report complaints, seek assistance and resolve telecommunications service issues without traveling to Monrovia. He emphasized that the facility was established to solve problems for consumers, not create new difficulties for them.

Honnah said the Authority also intends to strengthen its monitoring and regulatory activities in Bong County and surrounding areas. LTA’s compliance team, he disclosed, will assess the operations of telecommunications companies, local internet service providers and community radio stations to ensure they meet regulatory requirements and deliver services that match consumers’ expectations.

According to authorities, subscribers will be able to bring complaints about poor network quality, rapid data depletion, billing and other problems with mobile network operators directly to the Authority.

The facility will also provide licensing, engineering and compliance services to operators, local internet service providers and radio stations in the county. The initiative, officials said, underscores LTA’s commitment to consumer protection, better service delivery and ensuring that operators provide quality service and value for money.

Bong Leaders, Lonestar Welcome Center

A representative of the Bong County Council welcomed the new center, describing access to communication services as an important part of inclusive development. He urged the Authority to make sure the facility provides meaningful support to consumers, particularly those who have long experienced frustrations with service providers.

Bong County Senator Prince Moye commended LTA for establishing the office, noting that bringing telecommunications regulatory services closer to the people has been a longstanding demand among citizens.

He challenged mobile network operators to promote fair, customer-centered competition and to ensure that improved services reach communities beyond major urban centers.

A representative of Lonestar Cell MTN said the dedication marks a significant milestone toward a more inclusive, transparent and consumer-focused sector. He said Lonestar Cell and LTA were celebrating a renewed commitment to the people of Liberia and Bong County, and described the center as a symbol of accountability, accessibility and empowerment for citizens who depend on telecommunications for communication, education, business innovation and social connection.

In today’s digital age, he said, reliable service is no longer a luxury but a necessity, and consumers deserve a platform where their voices are heard and their rights protected. The ceremony brought together LTA officials, Bong County authorities, youth groups, telecommunications operators and civil society organizations.