NATIONAL NEWS
G. BASSA COUNTY – The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has opened its first decentralized service center in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, in an effort to bring telecommunications regulation and consumer protection services closer to residents.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The center is expected to provide residents with easier access to the LTA and create a platform for addressing concerns related to telecommunications services, including network quality, data usage and other consumer-related issues.
Speaking during the opening, LTA Board Chairman Clarence Massaquoi said the establishment of the center represents a deliberate step toward decentralizing the authority’s services and ensuring that citizens outside Monrovia can more easily access the institution.
“Our services are decentralized, and Grand Bassa County is the first to have this. I will sound a little bit ambitious today. I am even thinking that eventually, today we have a room at the service center.”
Massaquoi said the LTA could eventually establish a permanent sub-office in Grand Bassa County, noting that such a move would further strengthen the authority’s presence and improve services to residents.
“When we sit in, we want to have a sub-office in Grand Bassa. You may not have it in all the counties, but if you want to have it regionally, there’s no way you’re not allowed in Grand Bassa, even if you want to be regional.”
He emphasized that decentralization must be a deliberate government effort aimed at improving service delivery and making citizens feel the impact of public institutions.
“To improve services, for us to bring services to our people, to make our citizens proud, it has to be a deliberate step taken by the government. You can always say it would be good to have it, but nobody dares take the first step.”
The LTA Board Chairman further disclosed that the authority is considering expanding its decentralized operations beyond Grand Bassa County. He said Beaumont County is also being considered, with plans to establish two substations this year, while extending services to the southeastern region remains a longer-term objective.
“We plan for two substations for this year. I was in agreement of the two centers, Grand Bassa and Beaumont County, until I spent one and a half hours at the service center the day before yesterday at the LTA office. I sat there and negotiated, pending approval by the commissioner.”
Massaquoi said he has proposed finding a way to establish the Grand Bassa facility this year, even if it was not initially included in the authority’s plan, while also considering a longer-term expansion into southeastern Liberia.
Grand Bassa County Superintendent Karyou Johnson welcomed the decentralization initiative, saying it would help make telecommunications services more accessible to residents across the county.
“As citizens, as leaders, and as people of Grand Bassa County, we want our people to be accessible, be served, and therefore ensure that every community in Grand Bassa benefits from quality and affordable telephone services.”
Superintendent Johnson thanked the LTA leadership for advancing the decentralization process and encouraged the authority to ensure that communities throughout the county benefit from improved telecommunications services.
“Mr. Chairman, thank you for fostering the decentralization process.”
The opening of the Buchanan service center marks an important step in the LTA’s efforts to decentralize its operations and strengthen consumer protection by bringing regulatory services closer to telecommunications users across Liberia.
