The Government of Liberia, through the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), has announced plans to block counterfeit mobile phones from entering and operating within the country. The announcement was made by the Acting Board of Commissioners, led by Clarence Massaquoi, during a Senate confirmation hearing for him and his fellow commissioners. Massaquoi emphasized that the growing influx of fake mobile devices poses a serious threat to both consumer safety and the national economy.
According to Massaquoi, the LTA is nearing the final stages of developing a comprehensive detection and restriction system that will identify and block counterfeit phones. He noted that many of these devices, especially smartphones, are targeted by fraudsters due to their high resale value, while basic phones are less commonly counterfeited. Non-genuine devices often create hazardous environments for users and can disrupt network operations, making their removal a national priority.
The upcoming program will focus on verifying the authenticity of mobile devices sold on the Liberian market by implementing systems that can detect and restrict the use of phones with fake or duplicate IMEI numbers. This initiative mirrors successful programs adopted in other African countries and aims to protect consumers from low-quality and potentially dangerous devices.
The current Acting Board of Commissioners—Clarence Massaquoi, Angela Cassell Bush, Patrick Honnah, and Ben Fofana—is working to finalize the enforcement framework as they await confirmation from the Liberian Senate. With this new initiative, Liberia is taking a major step toward securing its digital infrastructure, strengthening consumer protection, and ensuring that only genuine mobile phones are used within its borders.