Suspended LTA Boss Acknowledges President’s Decision -Maintains Innocence, Asks for LACC’s Fast-Tracking of Probe

MONROVIA – President Joseph Boakai recently temporarily relieved Liberia Telecommunications Authority acting chairman Abdullah L. Kamara off his post in regards to allegations of corruption. Though the media hurried with disclosing the news about Kamara’s suspension, it seems he has just taken delivery of the letter to the effect. On 18 June, he sent a communication to the president acknowledging the president’s decision but not without stating he will fight to redeem his reputation tainted by the allegations and some critical reforms ongoing at the LTA. The Analyst reports.

LTA’s acting Chairman Abdullah L. Kamara has acknowledged receipt of the letter of suspension from his boss, President Joseph Boakai, about his temporary ouster until allegations of corruption against him are cleared.

In the communication dated 18 June, Mr. Kamara wrote: “It is with great humility and pride that I acknowledge receipt of my letter of suspension. I feel a sense of pride because your decision again demonstrates your commitment to accountability and transparency for which you are known to stand for and for which you are well respected. Sir, I fully support your decision.”

He alarmed that allegations of corruption in the GAC report linking him “are indeed grave and have already started to put a taint on my well-earned reputation built over several years and the name of my family” but said that the decision would however allow him to focus fully on the task of legally addressing the allegations against him.

He said he takes the allegations seriously, and, consistent with the president’s instructions that he cooperate with the LACC, “I wish to humbly inform you that I have over the past several months already availed myself to the LACC and have indeed been interviewed and provided statements regarding the GAC allegations. I am available”.

Mr. Kamara also used the communication to the president to state that when he first took the responsibilities as Acting Chairman of the LTA, it became immediately evident to him that such responsibilities carried significant level of exposures to public scrutiny and political interests.

“Despite these realities, I am deeply grateful that you have bestowed such a high level of confidence in me,” he told the president in the letter, adding: “I pray that I continue to uphold myself to your standards. Without a surprise, a new bar has been set for public officials going forward; that GAC reports will be treated very seriously regardless of proximity and affiliation with the President.”

Thus, Kamara said, to avoid a prolonged process, it was his passionate appeal that the president would prevail upon the LACC to fast-track the investigation and conclusion on the allegations as levied.

He did not also forget to update the president on what he called “very important developments at the LTA which require strategic attention from your designated Acting Chairman during the months ahead”.

The developments, according to him, include the implementation of the ongoing reform programs at LTA – programs set to finally bring about stability and clarity in the governance and operations structure of the LTA organization.

“The reform puts LTA on a growth trajectory preparing it for the changing technological and regulatory environment. It addresses employment opportunities for young people, mis-alignment of staff, remuneration gaps, and unfair pay structure,” Kamara told the president.

He also spoke of the Digital Transformation Project at the LTA – a project set to usher Liberia into the digital age.

“With its successful launch last year, focused on training of 10,000youths and seed-funding for tech entrepreneurs, the coming 2 years will focus on broader themes that requires adequate supervision and strategic alignments with other government entities the national AAID programs,” the suspended LTA chairman also reminded president Boakai.