Monrovia – FrontPageAfrica has obtained a leaked communication displaying that the Public Procurement and Concessions Fee (PPCC) rejected a request from the Nationwide Identification Registry (NIR) to make use of a restricted bidding course of for Liberia’s $9.8 million Nationwide Biometric Identification System (NBIS) Undertaking — just for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, simply days later, to difficulty a directive endorsing the exact same vendor.
By Jaheim T. [email protected]
The paperwork elevate critical questions on whether or not key presidential advisers could have formed the circulation of data to the President, steering the method in favor of an Austrian Firm with a controversial historical past in Liberian Authorities circles.
The Request That Sparked It All
On June 10, 2025, NIR Govt Director Andrew Peters formally wrote to PPCC Chief Govt Officer, Bodger Scott Johnson, in search of a “No Objection” to bypass worldwide aggressive bidding in favor of a Restricted Bidding Methodology.
Peters argued the challenge would set up a “first-class” nationwide ID system—the “mom database” for Liberia’s digital transformation—able to enhancing tax assortment, closing income leakages and enhancing nationwide safety.
He cited the Liberia Digital Transformation Undertaking, launched in October 2024 by the NIR and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) because the framework for the plan. The proposal pegged the associated fee at US$9,855,000 to be completely pre-financed by the chosen agency. Peters additionally sought to cut back procurement lead time to simply 12 months.
Excerpt of Peters’ letter: “In an effort to advance these nationwide aims, consider the capability or mentioned agency to pre- finance deployment and full implementation of a nationwide system that meet Liberia’s necessities and aspirations, the NIR request the PPCC ’s “No-Objection” for Restricted Bidding and discount in lead time for the aim of evaluating inside a twelve (12) month interval. Their capability to ship up-to-date and strong expertise without charge to the Authorities of Liberia.”
PPCC Says No
The request triggered a assessment by PPCC’s Compliance & Monitoring Division led by Barsay M. Dowah. The findings had been damning.
The NIR, the assessment mentioned, did not submit the required customary Concession Plan Template for a Public-Personal Partnership (PPP) association — a direct violation of the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) of 2010.
Extra critically, the PPCC decided that Restricted Bidding was not permissible below Part 97 of the PPCA, which mandates Worldwide Aggressive Bidding for high-value contracts like this.
On July 7, 2025, PPCC CEO Bodger Scott Johnson issued a proper letter denying the request:
“The Fee is unable to grant the Nationwide Identification Registry (NIR) a No Objection to proceed with Restricted Bidding… The NIR is required to make the most of the Nationwide and Worldwide Aggressive Bidding technique… and to submit a Concession Plan in keeping with Part 79 of the PPCA.”
The Austria Connection
However even because the PPCC was saying no, a community of influential figures contained in the Boakai’s Administration was allegedly working behind the scenes to safe the deal for OSD Worldwide of Austria.
The connection traces again to a visit final 12 months the place a number of officers reportedly visited OSD’s Austrian Headquarters. Critics say that journey laid the groundwork for bypassing open competitors in favor of a handpicked vendor.
From PPCC Denial to Presidential Directive
The timeline is hanging. Simply three days after PPCC’s rejection, on July 10, 2025, President Boakai issued a directive establishing a Nationwide Steering Committee for a nationwide biometric ID rollout by April 13, 2026.
The committee, chaired by Nationwide Safety Advisor Samuel Okay. Woods, contains the Ministry of Inner Affairs, Ministry of International Affairs, Ministry of Put up & Telecommunications, LTA, NIR, Central Financial institution of Liberia, NEC, the President’s Senior Financial Advisor, and the President’s Supply Unit.
Essentially the most controversial a part of the directive? It ordered the challenge to proceed “with the beforehand procured vendor, OSD Worldwide of Austria”, upholding what it described as a “verified procurement course of” and an earlier contract signed by NIR and LTA” — successfully overriding PPCC’s rejection.
Backdating Communications to Cowl Tracks
In response to sources near the data, a number of people concerned within the course of backdated communications and official paperwork to present the impression that procurement protocols had been correctly noticed earlier than the PPCC’s formal denial. This tactic, critics say, was designed to create a false narrative of compliance and protect these accountable from accountability.
Does the President Have the Authority to Override PPCC Selections?
Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) and Public Monetary Administration Act (PFMA) set up a transparent authorized framework regulating authorities contracts and procurement processes. The PPCC is the unbiased regulatory physique tasked with imposing compliance with procurement legal guidelines to make sure transparency, equity, and accountability.
Whereas the President, as head of the Govt Department, wields broad administrative powers, these powers aren’t absolute or past the rule of legislation. The PPCA doesn’t explicitly grant the President authority to unilaterally override procurement selections made by the PPCC, significantly when these selections are grounded in clear authorized necessities designed to stop abuse and corruption.
Presidential directives that circumvent aggressive bidding guidelines and override PPCC denials threat violating the legislation, undermining institutional checks and balances, and exposing contracts to authorized challenges that would stall or nullify important tasks.
Furthermore, procurement contracts of this magnitude require adherence to multi-layered oversight, together with involvement from the Ministry of Finance and attestation by the Ministry of Justice, to make sure legality and financial duty.
Due to this fact, though the President could affect coverage and administrative priorities, any motion contradicting established procurement procedures with out lawful justification raises critical considerations about legality and governance.
Why This Issues
The biometric ID challenge is designed to be Liberia’s spine for digital governance, voter integrity, and safe entry to public providers. However whether it is based on a course of marred by political lobbying, abroad junkets, backdated paperwork, and ignored procurement legal guidelines, the credibility of the system might be compromised from the beginning.
The PPCC’s warning was clear: non-compliance might make the contract susceptible to authorized challenges, risking each public belief and Liberia’s standing with worldwide companions.
The Lingering Query
If the PPCC clearly mentioned “No” on July 7, how did a directive approving the identical vendor attain the President’s desk simply days later?
Was President Boakai given the entire and unfiltered information, or has his determination been influenced — or misled — by a choose group with vested pursuits?
Till the President addresses this contradiction, suspicion will persist {that a} challenge meant to represent transparency and modernization could as a substitute be a case research in political maneuvering and procurement circumvention. The Govt Mansion and the PCC didn’t reply to FPA inquiries.
Authorized Framework Ignored?
The Public Monetary Administration Act of 2009, alongside the Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 2010, units clear requirements meant to safeguard authorities contracts from abuse.
Part 24 of the Public Monetary Administration Act states all purchases of products and providers, together with capital investments, should adjust to the Public Procurement and Concessions Act and its rules. It requires ministries, particularly the Ministry of Finance, to take part actively in contract negotiations for agreements exceeding US$250,000, with the Ministry of Justice testifying contracts to make sure legality.
Moreover, multi-year contracts should align strictly with authorised nationwide budgets, with no unilateral motion permitted to abrogate obligations with out legislative sanction.
On this case, the NIR did not submit a concession plan as required, ignored the PPCC’s mandate for worldwide aggressive bidding, and proceeded with out clear oversight or correct ministerial involvement. Such actions place the contract outdoors the bounds of present legislation, risking authorized nullification and eroding confidence in Liberia’s procurement system.
