A Short Note on Corruption in Telecommunications in Liberia

20 Pages Posted: 25 Aug 2012

See all articles by Ewan Sutherland

Ewan Sutherland

University of the Witwatersrand, LINK Centre

Date Written: August 24, 2012

Abstract

Liberia endured military warlords, dictatorships and civil war, before entering a period of post-conflict transition and successful elections. It continues to have significant problems with corruption.

Despite these problems, mobile network operators have been able to develop their networks and businesses, covering much of the country and now connected to an undersea cable.

However, the first mobile licence was granted to cronies of Charles Taylor, warlord and now war criminal, with serious allegations that he owned part of the company (i.e. rent seeking). Three further licences were granted under obscure circumstances hinting at further corruption.

Attempts to revive the state-owned fixed operator saw bribes paid by a manufacturer to supply equipment.

The head of the regulatory authority has been found guilty of theft. He had, over a number of years, treated its revenues as his own.

Keywords: Liberia, Africa, telecommunications, corruption, bribery, nepotism, war crimes

JEL Classification: L96, K14, K23, K33, K42

Suggested Citation

Sutherland, Ewan, A Short Note on Corruption in Telecommunications in Liberia (August 24, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2127082 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2127082

Ewan Sutherland (Contact Author)

University of the Witwatersrand, LINK Centre ( email )

1 Jan Smuts Avenue
Wits
Johannesburg, Gauteng 2000
South Africa

HOME PAGE: http://link.wits.ac.za/

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