Construction for the proposed headquarters for the Liberian Telecommunications Authority is being stalled here for various reasons, ranging from a land dispute to a financial crisis, thus delaying the regulatory body’s arrival at a permanent headquarters.
By: Emmanuel wise Jipoh
Margibi County, Liberia, March 18, 2024 – Approximately valued about four million United States Dollars (US$4 Million) and situated on about seven (7) acres of land in Duazon, Margibi County, adjacent to the Edward Binyen Kesselly Barracks, along Robertsfield Highway, construction works on the proposed headquarters of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has stalled after being reportedly abandoned by the BMC Group Construction Company.
The project’s abandonment has sparked outrage among the public, with calls for accountability against the LTA from the Unity Party-led government.
The NEW DAWN gathered that funds were available for completing the project during the regime of former President Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
According to inside sources, work on the proposed LTA headquarters stalled because of a financing crisis engulfing the entity due to alleged misuse of funds allotted for the project.
Other sources attribute the abandonment of the project to an alleged clandestine deal the LTA Management entered into with the BMC Group of Construction Companies to construct an additional commercial housing rental facility on the land beside the proposed headquarters, something that has met sharp resistance from residents of Duazon community, which led to a riot and subsequent halting of the project.
Residents of the community said they mainly provided the land to the Government of Liberia to construct housing units for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and wasn’t intended for private use or commercialization purposes, as being carried out by the LTA in partnership with BMC Group of Construction Companies.
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This is happening while the LTA leadership is in court regarding tenure positions for its commissioners. The Authority is currently assisting the Boakai administration in an attempt by the President to replace tenured officials at the entity.
Duazon Community Town Chief Amos P. Richards, who spoke to the NEW DAWN, said the land occupied by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Millennium Construction Company was given by the indigenous people of Duazon as far back as the Sirleaf administration for use by the military.
Chief Richard explained that the land was provided based on appeals from the Government of Liberia with an understanding to construct housing units for soldiers of the AFL. At the same time, part of the agreement was government’s commitment to providing amenities for residents, including school, clinic, road, town hall, and hand pump, among others.
According to him, the agreement has since been defaulted, as they have now seen private construction companies occupy their land and make millions of dollars while the concerns and welfare of dwellers are thrown out the window.
He said government has been paying deaf ears to their plights, which led community dwellers to rampage against the (LTA) and the privately-run Millennium Construction Company that are occupying premises.
Chief Richard maintained that they demand immediate compensation or a return of their land.
The embattled Chairperson of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Mrs. Edwina Zackpah Crump, confirmed that construction for the proposed headquarters has stalled over a land dispute with residents of the Duazon Community.
Madam Zackpah Crump told the NEW DAWN that the LTA has been trapped by the issue and is exploring quick solutions so that construction work can resume.
According to her, the LTA land guarantor and EBK military barracks through the Ministry of National Defense and the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) are finding an amicable solution to the dispute.
LTA Communication Director Miss Jersea Burphy, who couldn’t state the exact cost of the project, buttressed her boss that construction work was halted due to the community dwellers’ stipulations that the land should only be used for military purposes, something she said has resulted to the standstill.
Miss Birphy added that the LTA is trying to harmonize everything with the locals while assuring that the seven acres of land will exclusively be used for the proposed headquarters.
Also, in response to his company’s abandonment of the project, Hasan Kobeissi, the Chief Executive Officer of the BMC Group of Construction Company, who had earlier declined to respond to media inquiries, said the project actually costs US$4 million, not $23 million, as has been speculated.
He said the full project record can be verified at the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) in Monrovia.
However, CEO Kobeissi did not comment on how the BMC Group of Construction Company is constructing private housing units on the land, as alleged by the locals. Editing by Jonathan Browne
Why is the LTA headquarters being constructed around a Military Barracks? My opinion is that it should be constructed anywhere Across the Bridge.
This is the National / communication for the nation. This entity must be away from the Military. For security reasons.