Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-03-18 01:37:00
Construction of the proposed headquarters for the Liberian Telecommunications Authority in Margibi County, Liberia, has hit a roadblock due to various reasons, including a land dispute and financial mismanagement. The headquarters, valued at approximately four million US dollars and located on seven acres of land in Duazon, Margibi County, has been abandoned by the BMC Group Construction Company, halting progress on the project.
The abandonment of the project has caused outrage among the public, leading to calls for accountability from the Unity Party-led government. It has been reported that funds were available to complete the project during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. However, the project stalled due to a financial crisis within the LTA caused by alleged misuse of funds allocated for the headquarters.
Other sources suggest that the project was abandoned due to a secret deal between the LTA management and BMC Group of Construction Companies to build a commercial housing rental facility on the land adjacent to the headquarters. This decision was met with resistance from the residents of the Duazon community, resulting in a riot and the halting of the construction. The community members claim that the land was originally designated for housing units for the Armed Forces of Liberia and not for commercial purposes.
The situation is further compounded by a legal battle between the LTA leadership and tenured positions for its commissioners. The Authority is also assisting the Boakai administration in replacing tenured officials, adding to the complexity of the situation at hand.
Duazon Community Town Chief, Amos P. Richards, highlighted that the land occupied by the LTA and the Millennium Construction Company was initially given to the government by the indigenous people of Duazon for military housing. However, the agreement has been violated, with private construction companies now profiting from the land while neglecting the community’s needs.
The Chairperson of the LTA, Mrs. Edwina Zackpah Crump, acknowledged the land dispute with the Duazon community, leading to the construction stall. The LTA is working with the Ministry of National Defense and the Liberia Land Authority to find a resolution to the issue and resume construction.
The communication director of the LTA, Miss Jersea Burphy, confirmed that the construction was halted due to the community’s demand for military use of the land. She assured that the seven acres would be used exclusively for the proposed headquarters once the dispute is resolved.
CEO of the BMC Group of Construction Company, Hasan Kobeissi, clarified that the project cost was four million US dollars, not the rumored 23 million, and stated that project records could be verified at the Public Procurement and Concession Commission. However, he did not address the allegations of building private housing units on the land.
The construction delay of the LTA headquarters highlights the challenges of managing large infrastructure projects in Liberia, with issues ranging from financial mismanagement to land disputes affecting progress. With the involvement of multiple stakeholders and legal battles, finding a resolution to resume construction remains a complex task.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
