MONROVIA – Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Commissioner Patrick Honnah is facing intense public criticism over his perceived hypocrisy and the alleged lavish salaries and benefits he enjoys while data prices soar for ordinary Liberians. Social media, particularly Facebook, has been inundated with posts accusing Honnah of betraying his past advocacy against data reductions during the previous administration.
Honnah, once a vocal critic of data reduction policies under former President George Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government, has come under scrutiny for his silence on the recent data service cuts and price hikes implemented by GSM companies Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange Liberia. Activist Martin K. N. Kollie, known for his staunch opposition to bad governance, published a detailed critique of Honnah, accusing him of abandoning the very principles he once championed.
In a post titled, “Here’s Why We Are Calling Out LTA Commissioner Patrick Honnah – Bring Back Our Data,” Kollie lambasted Honnah for his silence and actions as an LTA official. Kollie wrote:
“Patrick was very vocal against data reduction for millions of poor and unemployed Liberians. Today, he is silent and even has the guts to reduce it as an LTA Commissioner. Hypocrisy. Our people are not cannon fodders. The ‘Rescue Mission’ came to serve and not to enrich ourselves at the expense of poor people.”
Kollie highlighted Honnah’s previous statements against data reductions in 2022, comparing them to his current actions. He also criticized the exorbitant salaries and benefits received by LTA commissioners, which reportedly total $15,755 per month, including allowances for housing, operational gas, and generator fuel.
Kollie questioned why public officials, especially those in an aid-dependent and impoverished nation like Liberia, are receiving such substantial compensation:
“What is one Liberian (LTA Commissioner) doing with this whopping amount every month when unemployment is 96.5%? Liberia is the world’s 8th poorest country. You cannot transfer the burden of financing your lavish and opulent wages on millions of poor people by reducing their data.”
The post called on President Joseph Boakai to cap all government salaries and benefits at $5,000 monthly across all 104 spending entities, including state-owned enterprises. Kollie argued that such a policy would reduce public waste and relieve financial pressure on the struggling economy.
Honnah’s rise to his current position has also drawn scrutiny. A supporter of the Unity Party during the 2023 presidential elections, Honnah reportedly declined other government positions offered by President Boakai and instead opted for the LTA role. Critics question whether this decision was motivated by personal gain, given the lucrative benefits tied to the position.
As the festive season approaches, public frustration continues to grow over the impact of high data costs on Liberians’ ability to connect with relatives and access vital resources. Kollie concluded his post with a stern warning:
“The decision to cut our people’s data is unwise and evil. Cut down on public waste (fat salaries and benefits).”
The LTA and Commissioner Honnah have yet to respond publicly to the allegations. However, the mounting criticism stresses the growing demand for transparency and accountability in Liberia’s public institutions.
