LTAC Commissioners At CSC Launch & Dedication
Monrovia-The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) is breaking what is considered by many as a ‘jinx,’ fulfilling a major promise to the people of Liberia with the opening of a new office in Gbarnga, Bong County, an event described by LTA Board Chairman, Clarence Massaquoi as “promise made and promise delivered.”
Speaking at the well-attended dedication ceremony in Gbarnga City last Friday, Chairman Massaquoi said the occasion was not merely the opening of an office, but a demonstration of the LTA’s commitment to taking telecommunications services closer to rural communities across Liberia.
“What we see here today is not the mere opening of an office. It is promise made and promise delivered,” Massaquoi declared to applause from the crowd.
“This is a promise made by Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai. This is practical decentralization; what was far away is coming closer,” he said. “At the LTA, we are in the business of connecting people; we are here for decentralization and I always use these opportunity to say how happy, how pleased we are.”
The LTA boss said he was more than humbled and more than happy to be a part of President Joseph N. Boakai’s team, noting that the Authority is working in line with the government’s development agenda to expand access and improve service delivery nationwide.
Chairman Massaquoi used the occasion to recognize several dignitaries present at the event, including the Senior Senator of Bong County, Prince Kermue Moye, civil society organizations, representatives of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) who he described as valued partners, and the Lord Mayor of Gbarnga City, whom he thanked for his inspiring welcoming remarks.
He also recognized his distinguished colleagues on the Board of Commissioners of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, noting that one Commissioner was absent due to being out of the country, as well as members of the press, both national and local media organizations covering the event.
The LTA Chairman also framed the current LTA team as “an experienced coach drawing up a cream of good players who are required to perform to expectations.”
The statement is in reference to President Boakai, as an experienced statesman, gathering quality players on his team to ensure positive results, that his vision is implemented to the fullest.
In his remarks, Massaquoi paid special tribute to a female Clan Chief, asking the crowd to stand and applaud he, describing him as a seasoned orator and a veteran leader in the community.
He also spoke of progress being made by the LTA in many areas, including spectrum and frequency management, infrastructure development, fiber expansion, and overall telecommunications regulation, noting that the Authority remains focused on ensuring Liberians, including those in rural communities, benefit from improved connectivity.
The opening of the Gbarnga Consumer Support Center is seen as part of the LTA’s broader decentralization drive to ensure that citizens outside Monrovia have direct access to the Authority’s services without having to travel to the capital.
The ceremony brought together local leaders, community members, partners, and stakeholders, all hailing the LTA for delivering on its commitment to the people of Bong County.
He also used the occasion to tout gains in other areas LTA has shown great leadership and a sense of commitment, divulging how the national entity has managed to salvage its financial obligations to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) coupled with ongoing engagements with external networks for Liberia to manage its own domain.
At the same time, the LTA Board of Commissioners has pledged full commitment to delivering on its mandate and the vision of President Joseph N. Boakai, ensuring that citizens, no matter where they live, have unhindered, affordable and available access to telecommunications services.
While launching and dedicating the new Consumer Support Center, it also vowed that it would not fail in its drive to decentralize services and bring redress closer to the people.
The Gbarnga Center will now serve as the first point of contact for consumers in central Liberia to lodge complaints about poor network, unfair billing, SIM registration issues, and other telecom-related matters without having to travel to Monrovia.
The colorful ceremony drew dozens of Gbarnga residents, local government officials, LTA Commissioners, civil society actors and other stakeholders.
LTA Commissioners At The Occasion
The Gbarnga launch follows a similar undertaking in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County a few months ago, as part of the LTA’s decentralization goal and in alignment with President Boakai’s vision.
Giving the overview of the project, Commissioner for Consumer, Universal Access and Public Affairs, Mr. Patrick Honnah, described the launch as a “milestone achievement.”
“It is a great honor and pleasure to welcome you to the opening of the LTA Consumer Support Center here in Gbarnga City, Bong County. Today, we gather to celebrate the opening of an office, but also to welcome an opportunity to Bong County to public service,” Commissioner Honnah said.
He said the occasion reflects the aspiration that citizens wherever they live should be able to seek information, express their concerns, and receive the attention they deserve.
With the launch, Honnah expressed optimism that citizens of the county will no longer experience bottlenecks in getting redress.
“Ladies and gentlemen, telecommunication touches many aspects of our daily lives. Our students, business owners, farmers, health workers, and families, their ability to communicate better deeply affects us. Our hope is that this center will become a trusted point of contact, a place where people feel welcome, their questions are treated seriously, and their concerns are heard,” he said.
He thanked all those who worked diligently to make the initiative a reality, and charged staff assigned to the Center to serve with patience, professionalism, fairness and genuine commitment to the public.
“Let every person who enters this center be treated with dignity and respect,” Honnah stated.
“To the people of Gbarnga and the wider Bong County community, the occasion is also an invitation to partnership. Let us engage constructively with the center. Share your concerns responsibly and work together towards better service.”
Bong County Senator Prince Moye, who cut short another engagement to attend the program, praised the LTA for living up to the President’s vision.
“You know, if I didn’t see the progress LTA is making in terms of decentralizing its activities across the country, under the leadership of this current administration, I would be surprised,” Senator Moye said.
He recalled his time in the House of Representatives alongside former Representatives Clarence Massaquoi and Ben Fofana, now LTA Commissioners, when they received a myriad of complaints from aggrieved citizens across the country.
“Some of the complaints were just simple, that the regulatory authority, if they had decentralized activities, could be handled at a different region or county level. But because of the overly centralized system that we have, we have to take those complaints to Plenary,” he said.
“Many times, when the discussions are done at Plenary, who’s supposed to execute those mandates? They are not still available in the different counties. So we go back to the same thing.”
According to Moye, through the assertiveness and effectiveness of the current team at the LTA, the presence of the LTA is now being felt across Liberia.
He also hailed the LTA’s work on cybersecurity education for students and its role in protecting consumers.
“As one of the commissioners, Commissioner Bull said, we are just at the top-end of the cybersecurity marathon, educating our own kids from school how to protect their information and you know online platform and different things that they have on the internet,” he said. “And today we are here to open a center that will protect consumers. And now what is that? That will ensure that the service providers are doing what they’re supposed to do.”
Senator Moye called for a fair platform for GSM companies to compete, encouraging them to cover as much as possible the rural communities.
Civil society of Bong County also hailed the LTA’s farsightedness for the launch, while admonishing the Authority to ensure the ceremony is translated into impact.
“We want to say a big appreciation to LTA for inviting us, for also bringing the consumer service center to Bong County,” the representative said.
He reminded the LTA of Sections 14.4, 14.6 and 14.8 of the LTA Regulatory Framework, which state that consumers have the right to express their grievances and to meet with the LTA once complaints are addressed.
He described the launch as a history-making moment.
“Bringing this service to Bong County, we are grateful. It is always good to put the right people in the right place at the right time,” he said.
“Mr. Chairman and members of LTA, we say thank you. The civil society is with you.”
He, however, urged the Board to ensure it does not end with the launching ceremony.
“We are looking for impact. So, the center should always be open, it should be accessible to everyone. Our women, our youth, people living with disability should be treated fairly at this center.”
“We also want to recommend wider dissemination and awareness in the 14 administrative districts across the length and breadth of Bong County.”
The civil society body pledged to cooperate with the LTA in disseminating information in women meetings, youth meetings, school campuses and everywhere, while pledging to remain a strong voice of the people to monitor the process.
For the LTA Board, the launch is a clear message that they have a duty and responsibility to execute to the latter, a duty they say they will not fail.
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