Liberia’s Joint Committee Backs TIA Concession Renegotiation Over Cancellation

Capitol Hill, April 2, 2026: The joint committee of both houses on concession has concurred that the concession agreement between the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Telecommunications International Alliance (TIA) be renegotiated rather than canceled.

This followed a recent meeting of both houses after President Joseph Boakai submitted the TIA concession to the Legislature due to procedural errors.

Earlier, the Lower House voted for de-ratification, while the Senate called for renegotiation to address the government’s concerns. A Joint Conference Committee was subsequently convened to reconcile the differences.

The committee determined that renegotiation would place the government in a better position to make the necessary changes. In its reconciliation report, the committee also recommended lifting the suspension on TIA, halting any new contracts for the same services while the concession remains valid, and engaging TIA in renegotiation rather than cancellation. The agreement was reached before the Legislature went on recess.

Many lawmakers view this outcome as a step in the right direction, noting that cancellation of a concession would send a negative signal to the business community, both locally and internationally.

They also see it as consistent with President Boakai’s ARREST agenda, which identifies the rule of law as a cardinal principle and emphasizes a commitment to upholding legal standards.

The committee’s report was further supported by a legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice.

Originally signed in 2018, the agreement was converted into a concession in 2022, ratified by the Legislature, signed into law by the President, and officially published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2024, the Ministry of Justice confirmed the concession’s validity, stating that, in the absence of a judicial determination to the contrary, the 2022 concession is “legal, valid, and enforceable.”

Committee members Albert Chie, Amara Konneh, and Darius Dillon stated that renegotiation represents a lawful and balanced approach, noting that the government has consistently honored other concessions, including those with LTMI, ArcelorMittal, Firestone, CTN, and MedTech.