There are reported plans by the Government of Liberia to hire a Turkish-based company, Albayrak Group, for the renovation of Roberts International Airport (RIA). The Company is said to be linked to former Guinean President Alpha Conde
Sources hinted this paper about ongoing plans to hire Albayrak Group. However, decisions surrounding the consideration of this company are reportedly being reviewed due to suspected link to former Guinean President, Conde, who was overthrown by a military junta led by Mamady Doumbouya.
Our investigation has uncovered that Conde has a concession deal with the Management of Albayrak Group. He is said to have communicated with President Joseph N. Boakai to award the RIA renovation contract to the Turkish Company.
Circumstances under which the deal is being discussed might have security implications on Liberia as the Guinean Military Leader Doumbouya may feel indifferent if such contract is awarded to the Turkish company, which is linked to ousted President Conde.
Investigation also reveals that Senate President Pro-Tempore, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, James K. Mulbah, General Manager of RIA, and Board Chair of the RIA, Mr. Massaquoi Kamara, are said to be the forerunners of the deal. At the same time, RIA Board Chairman, Mr. Kamara is reportedly at loggerhead with Transport Minister, Sirleaf Tyler.
The tension between the two public officials follows opposition to the deal by Minister Tyler. In an effort to ensure that the deal is consummated, the National Investment Commission (NIC) has requested President Boakai to constitute the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC).
A letter dated November 20, 2024, and addressed to President Boakai, the Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), Jeff B. Blibo wants the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) to address the financing and redevelopment of the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
“As you are aware, financing the operations of the airport has been a significant challenge,” the letter stated. It added that the Board of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has decided to contract the services of a private sector to invest the capital required to resuscitate the airport and bring it up to a modern facility.
Blibo told the President that the potential developer will be required to enter into a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement, following which the airport will be turned over to the Government of Liberia.
“To move forward with this initiative, the relevant approvals such as the LAA Board’s approval, issuance of the Concession Certificate by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the Public Procurement and Concession Commission No Objection to proceed with a competitive process- been received,” Blibo stated.
The NIC boss stressed that to ensure the conduct of the procurement process in compliance with Section 81(3g) of the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) of 2010, the constitution of an Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee (IMCC) is crucial to oversee and facilitate this process.
In another communication reportedly written by President Boakai, the Liberian government extended an invitation to the Albayrak Group to present a proposal.
“Following your previous visit to Monrovia and our discussions during my transit in Istanbul, Turkey, I am pleased to formally invite you to Liberia to make a comprehensive presentation of your proposal for the redevelopment of Roberts International Airport (RIA),” the letter said. Accordingly, the invitation is also based on the information provided by the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) after their fact-finding mission to Turkey.
The letter also indicated that the presentation will provide the company an opportunity to showcase its capabilities, not only in airport development but also in areas such as agriculture, transportation, and other sectors where its expertise aligns with Liberia’s developmental priorities under the president’s administration’s “ARREST” Agenda.
It can be recalled that a series of Albayrak Group business deals, including in particular a concession agreement for Guinea’s most strategic port, caused massive protests in the country in 2019.
Nordic Mirror reported that the public’s reaction after the Guinean president awarded the Turkish company the concession for the Autonomous Port of Conakry (PAC) without following the proper procedures contributed to the already fragile political atmosphere in the West African country. While the current president, Alpha Condé, was accused of violating the constitution in an attempt to extend his presidency, Albayrak’s business relations with the country under the auspices of Erdoğan only added more woes to his troubled presidency.
The quarrel surrounding the PAC erupted on August 10, when the Guinean government announced that Albayrak would operate the conventional section of the Conakry port, which handles cargo excluding containers, for a period of 25 years. The Turkish company would in return invest $200 million over the first two years while committing to invest a total of $500 million for the entire term of the contract.
This didn’t allay the concerns of the Guineans, though. They knew some things were not right concerning a number of very crucial details. At the heart of this popular reaction was the suspicion that the Guinean authorities had just gifted a national asset to a Turkish company without observing the legally required procedures. For many, the Albayrak Group was clearly favored in a political move, as if Condé was making overtures to Erdoğan. The National Confederation of Workers of Guinea (CNTG) lost no time in announcing a strike to force the government to step back from this serious mistake.
